Electrolysis of Water Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science Training Presentation Spring 2012

Conversions of Electrical Energy to Other Forms Electrical Energy is Converted to: Mechanical Thermal Light Chemical Sound in these Examples Motors Heaters, toasters Light bulbs Electrolysis of water Doorbells

Procedure (Part A) Attach the alligator clips from the 9-volt battery to the electrodes. Submerge the electrodes in distilled water. Results Nothing happens in the distilled water. Electrical Energy  Chemical Energy (Electrolysis)

Part B Attach the alligator clips from the 9-volt battery to the electrodes. Add sodium sulfate salt into jar of distilled water. Submerge the electrodes into the salt water. Part C Add Universal Indicator until solution is light green. Electrical Energy  Chemical Energy – Electrolysis

Results Oxygen gas bubbles at positive red electrode, hydrogen gas bubbles at black negative. Universal Indicator turns purple color (basic) at negative, pink color (acidic) at positive electrode. –Hydrogen bubbles leave OH-. Oxygen bubbles leave H+. Conclusion Electrical energy comes from the battery. The electric energy is converted into chemical energy to decompose water. Water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. Only ion solutions will conduct electricity. Electrical Energy  Chemical Energy – Electrolysis

Distilled water can not conduct electricity  No reaction Distilled water + sodium sulfate conducts electricity  Decomposition of water Positive Oxygen Negative Hydrogen

Positive Acidic Negative Basic