 Question about electrolysis of water.
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Tetris
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Tue Jan 17 2012, 01:24AM
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Registered Member #4016
Joined: Thu Jul 21 2011, 01:52AM
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 660
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If it breaks down water molecules and salt molecules (if a salt water solution) would you get some hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid? I've used pennies and paper clips in a heavily salt water solution, and then placed a12V 1.5A source in there. The water turned a disgusting shade of green and was extremely warm. What happened there? I can understand the green, but what about the rest of it?
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m4ge123
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Registered Member #4118
Joined: Mon Oct 03 2011, 04:50PM
Location: MD
Posts: 140
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2H2O + 2NaCl ->(electricity) H2 + Cl2 + 2NaOH. The Cl2 then reacts with the NaOH to form NaClO3 (and eventually NaClO4). The green was either your penny or paper clip (whichever was connected to +) reacting with the Cl2 or something. The heat was from resistive heating. Apparently either your solution wasn't anything near saturated or your power supply is capable of delivering a lot of current without dropping in voltage. If your solution were saturated and your power supply were weak, the voltage across it would drop and there would be little resistive heating because most the power would go toward separating the water and salt.
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