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iwant2beoz
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I was just wondering if ionizing radiation can split water into hydrogen and oxygen? Thanks in advance :)
Radiolysis produces a variety of radicals, and the radicals will react with other species (e.g., cations) in the water. Once a water molecule splits into H + OH, it will try to recombine. One would need some way to collect H and O from the water in order to mitigate the recombination.iwant2beoz said:Cool thank you for the link:) do you know if it is more or less efficient then using the electric method?
iwant2beoz said:Cool thank you for the link:) do you know if it is more or less efficient then using the electric method?
SteamKing said:Well, for one thing, you don't need a license to split water with electricity. If you start handling radioactive sources, all sorts of official regulatory and security bodies get concerned.
iwant2beoz said:Yes steamking i know that, and i won't be playing with radiation anytime soon. I have no interest in getting anyone hurt or myself. But my question still stands, Would Xrays used in conjunction with electricity work to split water more effectively then conventional methods?
Radiolysis is absent in the cited paper, so there is an opportunity to review applications of radiolysis to electrolytic separation of hydrogen from H20. Radiolysis does provide energy (via ionization) to break the water molecule, and the ionziation of the water will improve the conductivity.Drakkith said:If you're interested, here is a paper on the efficiency of electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen and several methods to increase the efficiency.
http://www.electrochemsci.org/papers/vol7/7043314.pdf
The water would not be radioactive if the source emits beta (electrons) and gamma rays. They interact with the atomic electrons through ionization.iwant2beoz said:Forgive me if this seems to be a silly question I'm not a physicist, I'm a bio major. Will either of the products (H/O2) have a chance of being radioactive?
If the water is moving and there is a magnetic field crossing the flow then the + and - ions will be pushed the opposite way withing the flow (MHD effect, google it). But: this is not a separation.iwant2beoz said:would it be possible to use a magnetic field to separate the H and O ions? I know that plasma can be guided with magnets?
There are just practical differences. Energy spectrum, randomness, amount, direction, focus, usage.iwant2beoz said:also what is the difference between beta particles and the electrons coming from an electron "gun" as found in a crt? (steamking I know you want to fuss but relax i don't intend to actually build anything with a crt)
Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove an electron from a water molecule, creating a positively charged hydrogen ion and a negatively charged hydroxide ion. This process is known as ionization and it can split water into its component ions.
No, water can also be split through chemical reactions or electrolysis, which involves passing an electric current through water. However, ionizing radiation is a natural and common way for water to be split in the environment.
Yes, ionizing radiation can split water into its component elements of oxygen and hydrogen. This process is known as radiolysis and it is an important source of these elements in our atmosphere.
The potential effects of ionizing radiation splitting water depend on the dose and duration of exposure. In small doses, the effects are minimal and may even be beneficial for certain applications, such as in cancer treatment. However, high doses of ionizing radiation can be harmful to living organisms and can cause damage to cells and DNA.
Yes, ionizing radiation can split water molecules in our bodies, as our bodies are mostly made up of water. However, our cells have mechanisms to repair any damage caused by radiolysis, and our bodies are also constantly exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation from natural sources. Significant damage from ionizing radiation usually occurs at high doses or prolonged exposure.