What is Water electrolysis: Definition and 22 Discussions

Electrolysis of water is the process of using electricity to decompose water into oxygen and hydrogen gas. Hydrogen gas released in this way can be used as hydrogen fuel, or remixed with the oxygen to create oxyhydrogen gas, which is used in welding and other applications.
Sometimes called water splitting, electrolysis requires a minimum potential difference of 1.23 volts.

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  1. Cavidex

    Chemical/Paint Building an electrolysis cell for a HHO torch

    I'm a young student and I'm building an electrolysis cell for a HHO torch. I want to limit the current used by the cell so that it doesn't break my bridge rectifier by drawing too much current. I want to know how big do my electrodes need to be to draw around 140A. For the anode I'm going to use...
  2. A

    Does water electrolysis work efficiently under high pressure?

    One of the stages in hydrogen production after electrolysis is to run the hydrogen through a compressor and that can take a lot of energy. Would it be possible to run an electrolysis setup inside an already high pressure hydrogen tank so that the hydrogen being separated during the electrolysis...
  3. E

    Theoretical reaction rate for water electrolysis

    So I'm designing a proces where carbondioxide is converted into methane using the Sabatier reaction. For this reaction hydrogen is required which I'm planning on producing using the electrolysis of water. But I'm having a problem where I need the speed of this reaction to determine the size of...
  4. S

    Is electrolyte chemical consumed during alkaline water electrolysis?

    In alkaline water electrolysis you add Potassium hydroxide, or Sodium hydroxide to the water you want to turn into hydrogen and oksygen. But is the Potassium hydroxide, or Sodium hydroxide consumed during electrolysis and needs to be replaced? Or do you just have to keep adding water as it is...
  5. Cheesycheese213

    Concentration of electrolyte for the electrolysis of water?

    I'm doing an experiment with the electrolysis of water, and I'm hoping to vary the electrolyte concentration (Epsom salt/MgSO4) to see changes in the rate of gas production. I was planning to just do intervals from no salt to maximum solubility, but was wondering whether there might be any...
  6. R

    Is a gold electrode supposed to corrode during electrolysis?

    Help! I was under the assumption that a gold electrode for oxygen would be able to sustain water electrolysis with sodium bicarbonate as the electrolyte without degrading, so I bought a foot long of 28 gauge 24k(pure gold) wire, but I've been putting it to the test for about 30 minutes and it's...
  7. hackhard

    Detect current direction in water

    a bowl is filled with tap water .electric current is made to flow due to electrodes attached to rim of bowl(opposite sides of bowl) i have 2 sense pins inserted into the water between the electrodes . how can i convert this analog signal(vd across sense pins) to a digital signal to detect...
  8. Narayanan KR

    Electrolysis using Displacement current?

    The figure shows two insulated metal electrodes kept in pure water with a small gap between them. When sufficiently large voltage pulses applied between electrodes, there is a flow of displacement current through the insulators and water, but will this split the water molecules because of the...
  9. J

    Water electrolysis with carbon cathode.

    I was wondering if I breakdown water with a carbon electrodes, will some methane be formed as well as hydrogen? In addition if methane is formed could other hydrocarbon chains also occur?
  10. S

    Electric field in water, using voltage, without electrolysis

    Hi! Can we create electric field in water, using electrodes (say 10-15V of voltage difference), without having electrolysis or arc in water? (the water can be salty). I just read that insulated electrodes can be used. but I'm not sure. PS: Sorry if the question sounds silly. My field of study...
  11. R

    Water electrolyser electrode material

    I've been trying to build a closed system water electrolyser with easily available materials which allows me to collect the gases separately. To do so, I've been meaning to build an acrylic housing with a textile separator in the middle of two compartments which houses the anode and cathode. The...
  12. HelloCthulhu

    Water electrolysis - solving for final volume of the system

    Homework Statement 2 moles of water at 20°C undergoes electrolysis at 5A/40V inside of a closed 40mL container for 1 min at standard external/internal pressure. What is the final volume of the system? Homework Equations (Q*M)/(F*z)=m Q=c x m x ΔT Vi/Ti = Vf/TfThe Attempt at a Solution Gas...
  13. HelloCthulhu

    Water electrolysis, work done, and volume change

    I'm trying to learn more about water electrolysis and the work done on and by the system, but I'm still very confused about a few elements. Knowing the volume of the closed container, the number of moles of water, the amps/volts from the battery, and the initial temperature of the water, I know...
  14. HelloCthulhu

    Temperature of gas during water electrolysis

    I know I can use the specific heat capacity formula to find the temperature of the water during electrolysis as long as I know the mass, specific heat constant of water and joules added beforehand: But I'm not sure how I could find the temperature of the gas produced. If the pressure was...
  15. HelloCthulhu

    What is the mass of H2 and O2 produced water electrolysis?

    Homework Statement 2 moles of H2O undergoes electrolysis at 15 amps for 1 hour. What is the mass of H2 and O2 gas produced? Homework Equations 4 H+(aq) + 4e−→ 2H2(g) 2 H2O(l) → O2(g) + 4 H+(aq) + 4e− Faraday's Law of Electrolysis Q = n(e-) x F The Attempt at a Solution F = 96500C...
  16. X

    Inefficiencies of Water Electrolysis

    Hello all, I have been doing some research on electrolysis of water. One thing I have found is that it seems to not be an efficient way to make hydrogen. I have also found that this efficiency can be dramatically increased by.. -Using the right electrolyte -Placing the electrodes at just the...
  17. WaterBart

    Deep Water Electrolysis = Hydrogen + Buoyancy

    Hi there. The energy used for hydrogen production can be recovered using the buoyancy force of the gas created at sufficient depth of water. Suppose we use electricity to split ocean water to produce hydrogen. Then the produced gas is captured into containers which are attached to a conveyer...
  18. HelloCthulhu

    Magnetic Field and Water Electrolysis Work

    Greetings everyone! I recently read a research paper on the effects of a magnetic field on redox potential of water (Magnetic Field Effects on Redox Potential of Reduction and Oxidation Agents), but the paper didn't include any of the equations related to the internal energy of the system...
  19. C

    Hydrogen peroxide production in water electrolysis

    I'm trying to understand my textbook's answer to the following problem: Q: Electrolysis can under certain circumstances result in the production of hydrogen peroxide. At which electrode will this occur, cathode or anode? A: During the formation of hydrogen peroxide from water, oxygen is...
  20. M

    Best* Electrolyte for Water Electrolysis

    Hey guys, looking for the best* electrolyte. * Temperature range of the electrolyte(Water will be pressurized so temperatures may exceed 100°C) Conductivity Efficiency (Heat, Mole H2/Mole Electrolyte) Stability I scouted the web, some said KOH, H2SO4 others Fe(NO3)3. So I'd just...
  21. S

    Water electrolysis equipment

    Hi all, Currently, my school wants to buy a water electrolysis machine to produce H2. From my point of view it is stupid but no choice. Does anyone here know any company make water electrolysis machine in medium or large volume? I will directly contact them. I have search by google but the...
  22. B

    Water Electrolysis and Water Dissociation with RF waves

    THIS IS NOT A HOMEWORK QUESTION. As Physicist of course I'm sure you've heard about the water dissociation with Radio waves that john kanzius discovered and I have a few questions on my mind listed below 1) What is the difference between this phenomenon and water electrolysis? Is it true...
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