Hydrogen electrolysis Hydrogen electrolysis is the process of running an electrical current through water (H 2 O) and separating the hydrogen from the oxygen. Process is the REVERSE of what occurs in a fuel cell (-) (+)

Fuel Cell AnodeCathode H2H2 O2O2 e - e - Electrolysis Cell AnodeCathode H2H2 O2O2 9v e - e - Fuel cell: Hydrogen and oxygen gases flow into the cell producing water and electricity. H2OH2O (H 2 O) Electrolysis cell: Hydrogen and oxygen gases produced when electricity flows through an electrolyte containing water. + / -

Electrochemical reactions Cathode – hydrogen reduced –4H 2 O + 4e -  2H 2 + 4OH - Anode – hydrogen oxidized –2H 2 O  O 2 + 4H + + 4e - Overall reactions –2H 2 O  O 2 + 2H 2 –4OH - + 4H +  4H 2 O Overall reaction requires electrical energy added

Today’s Lab Investigate bench top scale hydrolysis to produce Hydrogen Fuel