Electrolysis of Water: Calculating Current

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the current during the electrolysis of water using a 9V battery and 1 liter of water. Participants explore the factors affecting current flow, including resistance and the presence of gas bubbles on electrodes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about how to calculate the current when conducting electricity through water with a 9V battery.
  • Another participant suggests measuring resistance to apply Ohm's law (Volts = current x resistance) to find the current.
  • It is proposed that predicting the current is complex due to the formation of gas bubbles on the electrodes, which can interfere with current conduction.
  • A suggestion is made that using larger electrodes may increase current but will also lead to more gas accumulation, complicating predictions.
  • One participant mentions that using low-voltage AC could help avoid gas formation on electrodes if the goal is to conduct resistivity experiments.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the predictability of current during electrolysis, with some suggesting methods to measure and calculate it, while others highlight the complications introduced by gas formation. There is no consensus on a definitive method for calculating current in this context.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the specific setup, the need for electrolytes to facilitate dissociation, and the unresolved impact of gas accumulation on current flow.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in electrolysis, electrical resistance, and experimental setups involving current flow in solutions.

lasha1
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I want to know how to conduct I ampere current through solution.
For example i have 9V battery and 1 liter of water and i conducted electricity through water. How to calculate the current ?
 
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If t is useful. For example during 1 hour.
 
Volts = current x resistance. Measure the resistance on your electrodes.
 
With the electrodes placed in the water, and the battery disconnected, measure the resistance of the circuit.
 
lasha1 said:
I want to know how to conduct I ampere current through solution.
For example i have 9V battery and 1 liter of water and i conducted electricity through water. How to calculate the current ?
Predicting the current is not possible. I presume you will add electrolyte so some water dissociates to gases? As soon as DC flows bubbles of gas start to accumulate on the electrodes and this interferes with their conduction of current into the solution. For more current, you can try larger electrodes with their larger surface area, but these, too, will become coated with gas. You can agitate the vessel or components to try to dislodge some bubbles and the situation certainly reaches an equilibrium, but I don't think it is easily predicted.

If you are wanting to avoid gas forming on the electrodes, and just do resistivity experiments, you'll need to use low-voltage AC instead of the battery.

Good luck!
 
Thanks guys
 

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