Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Electrolysis of Water Lab


  •  What is the balanced chemical equation of this experiment?
  •  Is there qualitative evidence to support the balanced reaction?
  •  Could you collect quantitative data to 'prove' the balanced equation 
  •  Can you draw the particle diagram?


      Through a simple and fast procedure, we were able to view the separation of both 
hydrogen and oxygen within a baking soda mixture. In order to examine this separation,we filled two test tubes with the baking soda and water solution. We had a cup with two thumbtacks in which we placed each test tube over, and quickly there after filled the cup with the solution. We then placed the cup on a battery with each thumbtack on the positive and negative side of the battery. The setup and and beginning reaction looked like this:






 In this electrolysis of water lab, the production of hydrogen and oxygen can be represented through  the decomposition reaction equation; 2H2O----> 2H2 + O2. This balanced chemical equation can be supported by the quantitative evidence. Quantitative data in this lab supports the Law of Conservation of mass. In order to record this data one would mass the solution before and after the reaction. This law is proved by the equation produced, and by the particle diagram below.

Qualitative data was also observed in order to prove the balanced equation. This data includes; the examination of bubble production rate within each tube. We observed the rate of bubble production in one tube, which was significantly faster than the other. Thus further proving the separation of the hydrogen and oxygen gases. 




 An indicator was  also added to the substance. This gave us, the observers, another view as to     what was happening with in thee substance. With the addition of the indicator, the colors in the tubes began changing. One tube had more of a yellow tint, while the other had more of a blue color thus indicating a divergence of an acid and a base in the substance.

                                                  




2 comments:

  1. Double check the particle diagram -- does it really fit with your balanced equation? If the labels were removed, could you work from your diagram back to the equation?

    And, you mention quantitative data to 'prove' conservation of mass...what was it? How did it 'prove' conservation of mass?

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  2. Electrolysis can make your water mixture measurement easy & understanding process easy and information you shared is good.
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