From: emuller (emuller@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Wed Mar 31 2004 - 23:00:08 PST
Message-ID: <001a01c417b6$fb8f3650$6401a8c0@eric> From: "emuller" <emuller@exploratorium.edu> Subject: re:electrolysis Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 23:00:08 -0800
Hi Treena and Jennifer,
Electrolysis can be a mess!
The comments over the last day or two have been right on...don't use table
salt and be aware of the composition of your electrodes, most will corrode.
I few years back I looked into making a cheap,simple and safe electrolysis
device. You can find the directions on my site at www.exo.net/~emuller.
Note: I have changed things. Instead of wax, I now use plasticine to seal
the battery. You can contact me for more details.
In general, if you use stainless steel or platinum electrodes with magnesium
sulfate, the water will break-up into Hydrogen gas and Oxygen gas (both
diatomic). The Oxygen evolves from the positive electrode and the Hydrogen
evolves form the negative electrode. Ideally you should get a 2:1 ratio, but
things are pretty complicated near an electrod (so be happy with "about"
2ish to 1ish).
When I was doing the write-up, I contacted some major players in the world
of chemistry.... and nobody really knows exactly what's going on at the
electrodes.
Signed
Eric Muller, master of electrolysis and hair removal.
(Thanks for the Intro Paul and the tip about MgSO4 )
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