Just seen this U tube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K70JzbIgVIE
Can someone explain it? The energy used in the heat given off is obviously from the batteries, but what are the chemical mechanics?
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2007-10-17 07:30:53 · 10 answers · asked by John Sol 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I believe the video is faked. There is not nearly enough energy in two batteries to generate electrolysis which would separate out hydrogen and oxygen. Also, without getting too technical, having a second battery in there would make a kind of short-circuit that would prevent such a process from occurring. And even if hydrogen and oxygen were somehow released from the water, they would dissipate far too quickly for such a controlled burn. I think you and a lot of other people have been taken in. Sorry.
2007-10-17 07:48:09 · answer #1 · answered by Stalagmite 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Not hydrogen and oxygen gases, for sure! When a real electrolysis experiment is done, the hydrogen must be captured in an upside-down test tube, or balloon because of how quickly it dissipates in open air.
The other responders have it right--this is a video of alcohol burning. There could be a shallow layer of it at the top of the glass of water--alcohol is lighter than water and will float on it if not stirred. But, as others have pointed out, we don't even know if that glass still has the original water in it.
2007-10-17 10:03:50 · answer #2 · answered by Shaun 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have just tried it half a dozen times .
I cannot make it work.
Even if the batteries did cause electrolysis to make oxygen and hydrogen out of the water [a perfectly reasonable scientific explanation] the hydrogen would just go up in the air as hydrogen is the lightest element and would certainly not stay in the glass.
In any case if it was in fact hydrogen burning.
Water does not burn, it is already burnt hydrogen.
The following day more info.
I have now done the experiment we did at school.
Electrolosis of water.
I collected the oxygen and hydrogen in two jam jars, [we used test tubes at school.
I then lit them. [I wore eye protection] The hydrogen did not burn as in that foto. It went BANG.
The oxygen did not do anything.
That clip is faked.
If it was in fact H2 and O2 burning together it would go bang not burn.
That should be done on April first.
2007-10-18 04:01:42 · answer #3 · answered by philhoonoseitall 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you want my honest answer?
I think it is a scam. They show you how they fill "water" into the glass, then they cut and show you the glass with a liquid that looks a lot like water. But is it water? You would have no way of telling what it was because we have no "smellivision". It could have been alcohol. And, honestly, that is exactly how it burns... like pure alcohol.
If you saw the same thing on stage performed by a "magician" and he puts the glass behind a box and then pulls the glass out again, would you not want your money back? I mean... wouldn't it look like he just switched a glass with non-burning fluid against one with a burning fluid?
Same thing here. They did a simple switch on you but most people are so used to cuts in movies (because there is a gal or guy with the job description "continuity" on the set watching every little thing that might have changed while they moved the camera!) that our brains are pre-programmed to trust.
Fair?
2007-10-17 07:50:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Has anyone tried doing the actual experiment? I would assume that the oxygen/hydrogen separation, causing the gas would have to be sealed in, otherwise it would escape.
Can someone try this with a sealed container, then opening it, and lighting it after 40 mins?
2007-10-17 14:36:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The batteries in the water are short-circuited and the electricity produced is causing electrolysis of the water and forming Hydrogen and Oxygen gases in the water.
On applying the ignition, they burn together and re-unite into water vapour.
2007-10-17 12:10:27 · answer #6 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Gotta be kiddum! Wonder how many batteries are being dropped into water.
2007-10-17 10:34:04 · answer #7 · answered by bo nidle 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What ever they are burning, it is 100 proof. Looks like Vodka to me.
Ok, I had my laugh line, but it probably is alcohol. You just have to warm it up sufficiently and then light a match.
2007-10-17 07:52:46 · answer #8 · answered by Frst Grade Rocks! Ω 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A wild guess, without seeing the video... Hydrogen (very flammable) and oxygen (also burns well) maybe?
2007-10-17 07:37:23 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
batteries relise somthing into the water probably hydrogen
2007-10-17 07:43:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋