Producing hydrogen using electrolysis while avoiding chlorine poisoning

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the production of hydrogen gas through electrolysis, with a specific focus on avoiding chlorine gas production and exploring safe methods for generating hydrogen for various applications, including balloon inflation and vehicle use. Participants share their experiences and propose different electrolytes and methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about producing hydrogen gas at home while managing the chlorine gas produced during electrolysis.
  • Another suggests that alternatives to chloride electrolytes, such as sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide, could be used.
  • A participant proposes using sodium bicarbonate in distilled water as a safer electrolyte option.
  • There are discussions about the feasibility of producing sufficient hydrogen for practical use, with some expressing skepticism about the volume needed for fuel applications.
  • Multiple participants discuss using washing soda (sodium carbonate) and aluminum foil for producing hydrogen gas for balloon inflation, noting the reaction's speed and safety concerns.
  • Questions arise regarding the suitability of different container materials for the reactions, with considerations about chemical reactivity and safety during the process.
  • One participant presents a concept for a vehicle that generates hydrogen through electrolysis while driving, raising questions about the practicality and safety of such a system.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the vehicle concept resembles a perpetual motion machine.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of views on the best methods for producing hydrogen gas and the associated risks, with no consensus reached on a single approach or solution. Some participants agree on the use of alternative electrolytes, while others remain skeptical about the practicality of hydrogen production for fuel.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about the safety and effectiveness of different electrolytes and methods, but these assumptions are not universally accepted. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the quantities of materials needed and the risks involved in the proposed reactions.

Count Iblis
Messages
1,859
Reaction score
8
I want to produce about ten cubic meters of hydrogen gas using electrolysis in my home. How do I make sure the chlorine gas that is also produced is not going to cause problems? :confused:
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Count Iblis said:
I want to produce about ten cubic meters of hydrogen gas using electrolysis in my home. How do I make sure the chlorine gas that is also produced is not going to cause problems? :confused:
You necessarily need to use a chloride as electrolyte? You can use sulphuric acid, or sodium hydroxide as well (for example).
 
Hmm... I *think* that sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda) electrolyte in distilled water. I think that is pretty safe. My next-door neighbor is a grease burner, and currently experimenting with a hydrogen producing contraption in his diesel truck.

How do you plan to store 10 cu meters of Hydrogen gas?

People say that creating enough hydrogen volume to be used as a fuel is just a waste of time, but for the sake of us as potential consumers, and the planet I would love to see someone actually pull this off...

Best of Luck.

-map
 
I want to make a small hydrogen balloon that can lift a few kg.

So, instead of salt I just use baking soda or caustic soda?
 
Count Iblis said:
I want to make a small hydrogen balloon that can lift a few kg.

So, instead of salt I just use baking soda or caustic soda?
Yes. However you would do it faster with a chemical reaction; I used Al + Na2CO3 (sodium carbonate = washing soda) in a big glass container, to inflate a small balloon (without weights attached). I used Na2CO3 instead of NaOH (or an acid as HCl) because the reaction is less violent and NaOH doesn't attack glass.
To lift a few kg, a small balloon is not enough, you need a big balloon; I'm sure you can make the computation yourself.
(Of course, be careful not to approach any flame or hot object to the balloon, even because the sealing is never perfect).
 
Producing hydrogrn gas

hello

I want to make gas ballons that can fly,using hydrogen gas ..so i want to use this reaction

washing soda+water+aluminium foil..

But i don't know any risk involved in this and how much quantity to use..and before i had done this but the reaction was quite slow ..it took hours for balloon to get filled ..

can i use this reaction in plastic bottle of pepsi or coke..or i need to use only glass

Thanks
imran Ahmed
 
lightarrow said:
I used Na2CO3 instead of NaOH (or an acid as HCl) because the reaction is less violent and NaOH doesn't attack glass.

I intended: "because Na2CO3 doesn't attack glass."
 
imr said:
hello

I want to make gas ballons that can fly,using hydrogen gas ..so i want to use this reaction

washing soda+water+aluminium foil..

But i don't know any risk involved in this and how much quantity to use..and before i had done this but the reaction was quite slow ..it took hours for balloon to get filled ..

can i use this reaction in plastic bottle of pepsi or coke..or i need to use only glass

Thanks
imran Ahmed
You can use the container you prefer, provided it's not attacked by the strong alcaline solution, it sustains an increase in temperature due to the reaction, it's preferably transparent to monitor the reaction, preferably with no too thick walls to cool it quickly in case the reaction goes too fast and preferably made of something which could be heated, in order to accelerate the reaction if needed, or to accelerate its beginning.
 
hydrogen gas

is there any safe form of producing hydrogen gas by electrolysis without any adverse affects. so you would run vehicles that first are filled with water, battery starts engine, engine starts electrolysis, as well as top up the battery (plus storage tank contents remaining of h2 of previous drive out)
h2 is then created and stored in a safe container,and pumped to the engine
so energy from the engine feeds the battery generates h2 runs the vehicle and so on
thus eliminating need for hydrogen stops
just fill up with water at your local station every few thousand miles ,and maybe purchase a new battery
storage tank replaced every so many thousand miles for safety if needed ,along side
anything else affected by h2 in the vehicle plumbing etc.

just a thought = so no need for vast storage or transport of h2 problems
all built into the vehicles instead
 
  • #10
david s j said:
is there any safe form of producing hydrogen gas by electrolysis without any adverse affects. so you would run vehicles that first are filled with water, battery starts engine, engine starts electrolysis, as well as top up the battery (plus storage tank contents remaining of h2 of previous drive out)
h2 is then created and stored in a safe container,and pumped to the engine
so energy from the engine feeds the battery generates h2 runs the vehicle and so on
thus eliminating need for hydrogen stops
just fill up with water at your local station every few thousand miles ,and maybe purchase a new battery
storage tank replaced every so many thousand miles for safety if needed ,along side
anything else affected by h2 in the vehicle plumbing etc.

just a thought = so no need for vast storage or transport of h2 problems
all built into the vehicles instead

That would be a perpetual motion machine, right?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
731
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
9K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
6K