Electrolysis of Water

Below are the chemical equations that were used in the energy production proof here. It proves how much Voltage, or activation energy, to allow the reaction to go.

2 H₂O(l) --> 2 H₂(g) + O₂(g)

2 H2O + 2 e- --> H2 + 2 OH-			Eored = -0.83 V
2 H2O --> O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e-			Eoox = -1.23 V

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch20/faraday.php


"Electrochemistry." Electrolytic Cells. Bodner Research Web, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

The Science behind Electrodes

Electrolysis cells

Below is a brief description of how the electrodes should work. One end will be hooked up to the positive end of the battery while the other to the negative end of the battery.

The electrolytic cell has two (usually inert) electrodes to pass the electric current into the electrolyte. The negative electrode is called the cathode and the positive electrode is called the anode. The inert electrodes are usually made of graphite or platinum wire. The reactions occur at the surface of the electrodes. The power supply is usually symbolized by a short fat line (negative) and a long thin line (positive)

http://ibchem.com/IB/ibnotes/full/red_htm/9.5.htm

"Electrolytic Cells." Oxidation and Reduction. IsisSoft Interactive, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

Better Video of Electrolysis Reaction

This is an important video to watch if one is not sure what electrolysis is about. In this particular experiment, graphite electrodes were used. We are undecided on the material of electrodes for our model.

Lab Number 4

What to do:

Once we find a cheap graduated cylinder that works for the project, we can then find the correct diameter for the electrodes. This then tells us how big the whole system would be, therefor allowing us to order the correct amount of materials and start construction. While construction is in process, an experiment for determining the most efficient voltage and electrode will be done to record data as well as concluding the selection of materials. Most of the other materials, such as copper wires, batteries, electrical tape and a fish tank are bought already. Time in a undergraduate lab with a borrowed voltmeter is needed for the experiment. The experiment should last at most 3 hours.

Electrodes:

It is concluded that these materials will be ordered when the size is known:

• stainless steel
• aluminum
• graphite
• iron
• copper

Electrolysis Reaction Proof

Creo Parametric Model

Shown below is a crude model of the final design of the system. The scaling of each part in the assembly is off but the rough basic shape is there. Also, the electrode placement is off but will be fixed in actual construction. Not shown is the outside circuitry which will switch system on and off.

Materials shown:

• Gold - 9v battery
• Green - attached to positive terminal
• Red - attached to negative terminal
• Blue Transparent - graduated cylinders
• Metallic - electrodes
• Aluminum - aluminum shell
• Glass - acrylic window

A look inside the system.

An outside look of the system.

A different angle.

Lab Number 3

Next Step:

• Creo model of system
• Electrode test
• determining what material the electrode should be made out of (steel, aluminum, copper, graphite)
• determining if an electrode will be used for better conduction
• determining an efficient, cost effective, and easily obtainable wire material
• Ordering submarine materials
• this includes the aluminum and acrylic
• any wires needed
• other electrical parts (switches)
• Researching Energy production
• by using enthalpy chemistry, the amount of energy the reaction produces can be determined. This is helpful to determine the efficiency of the reaction and thus how much voltage is created.
• This will be the most important next step

Construction of Prototype

Procedure:

Supplies for the design

For the first phase of our experimenting we are constructing a submarine prototype using a 2-L bottle. We cut a rectangular hole in the side of the bottle to access the interior. In our first design, we used electrical tape to tape two AAA batteries to the top of the bottle. We then took spare copper wires and electrical taped them to the positive and negative ends to the batteries. This totaled four copper wires. These were then lead into the water. The materials we used were a plastic bottle, copper wires, utility knife, electrical tape, 2 AAA batteries, and a 9-volt battery. 

The first design

Experiment 1:

This experiment was using the AAA battery setup. For some reason, either the batteries were not enough voltage (1.5 Volts each to total 3 Volts) or the connections to the poles was not solid enough. In result, nothing happened.

Experiment 2:

This experiment, we substituted the AAA batteries for a 9-volt battery. This reduced the wires from four to two. As shown in the video, the reaction was occurring. 

The electrolysis system

The 9-volt battery and copper wires

Conclusion:

We concluded from our experiment that there needs to be a higher voltage in order for the reaction to work better. This will help with our readings of the amount of volume of gas created. A new wire and possibly an electrode will be used to allow the reaction to run more efficiently. This will be either aluminum, graphite or any other metal that is more efficient (experiments will be ran). There is also an idea that a controlled amount of salt will be added to the water. This will allow the water to be even more conductive due to the extra ions in the water. 

Thoughts

After talking with Prof. Cairncross, we have found out our game plan. We will make a prototype submarine out of a 2-liter sprite bottle, basic copper wires, and two 9-volt batteries. This will allow us to see the reaction and take notes on what we can improve on. We already know that the material of the wires can be better, but copper wire is easy to get and cheap. We will watch the reaction go, and the plan is to use graduated cylinders to measure the volume of oxygen and hydrogen gas formed. This is an important step in the production process of the project.

Experiments on Electrolysis of Water

This website linked below is an overview of an experiment looking to improve the electrolysis processes of water. The errors that occur within there experimentation were related to corroding copper electrodes, slow process time for the reaction and discoloration in the water. With in their experiment they changed their copper electrodes to graphite rod electrodes to avoid the corrosion and discoloration of the water. For our project this got me thinking about the most efficient metal to use for the electrodes and what would be most environmentally friendly for open water in the ocean. Possible electrodes to be tested may contain copper, aluminum, steal, platinum, and graphite.  Also in their experiment they added 10% of sulfuric acid to increase the reaction time. This would not be most efficient for a submarine model because we would not want to put in foreign substances in the water. The question that arises is that will salt content in the water produce a similar effect to increase reaction time. This will be investigated further with chemical reactions and testings.

http://www.miniscience.com/projects/WaterElectrolise.htm

INC., MiniScience,. "Electrolysis of Water." Electrolysis of Water. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. <http://www.miniscience.com/projects/WaterElectrolise.htm

Example of Electrolysis Reaction

This is an example of the electrolysis reaction. It states that the two test tubes contain hydrogen gas and oxygen gas separately. This is a great visual for the physical basic reaction.

Lab Number 2

Thoughts

Problem: Copper wire will corrode when the electrolysis reaction occurs.

Solution: Replace copper wire with graphite or another conductor (tests provided) to allow for the reaction to proceed at ease.

• Two 12-volt batteries (or a bunch of 9 volt batteries) will be the basis of the energy for the electrolysis reaction. This should be sufficient enough for the reaction. 
• How big should the submarine be? 
• What materials should it be made out of?
• Aluminum Sheets
• Acrylic sheet for "window"
• How should the volume of gas be measured?
• What conductive material should the wires be made of to be the most efficient?
• Test reaction of each metal in the lab for greatest efficiency. 
• Reaction happens, gas volume measured, THEN what happens to the gas? How is it released?
• In progress

Five Neat Things About Submarines 

This was the article that got myself (Jon) interested in electrolysis in submarines. It also helped me understand what electrolysis was and how I could explain it to my group members. This blog is an important resource for the design project.


http://markanthonygreen.blogspot.com/2010/03/five-neat-things-about-submarine-by.html

Green, Tony. "5 Neat Things about a Submarine." : Five Neat Things about a Submarine by. Blogspot, 20 Mar. 2010. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.