Electrolysis of Water

A considerable amount of <a href="http://byjus.com/physics/energy/" target="_blank">energy</a> is needed to get the atoms apart from each other. This energy can be supplied by a battery. The water connects these terminals and acts as a bridge for energy flow.

Baking soda is added in this experiment to make it as an electrolyte. An electrolyteis a kind of solution which can be splitted by electrolysis. Electro indicates electricity and energy and lysis denotes splitting.

Apparatus Required

• Distilled Water
• 2 thumb tacks
• 9V Battery
• Small plastic container
• Stopwatch
• 2 test tubes
• Lemon
• Salt
• Detergent

Procedure

• Put the thumb tacks at the bottom of the container such that the points can be pushed up in the container. Keep the space between them same as the terminals of the battery.
• Keep the container over the battery terminals with the thumb tacks.
• Fill the container with distilled water slowly.
• Put a pinch of baking soda.
• Hold the test tubes over every pin to collect the gas and note your observations.
• Remove the solution and repeat the above procedure with different sets that include:

• Distilled water and salt.
• Distilled water and detergent.
• Distilled water and lemon juice.

Conclusion

The baking soda solution provides a good amount of electricity and the solution with salt gives the best <a href="http://byjus.com/physics/electrolysis-and-electroplating/" target="_blank">electrolysis</a>.

When baking soda is dissolved in water, it allows current between the terminals through the water. The baking soda solution produces hydrogen(H2), carbon dioxide(CO2) and oxygen(O2) gases.