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  • #31
    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post

    HB, where do you get the idea that Ozone is an ion? It's simply O3 - three oxygen atoms combined into a molecule. O2 is not an ion, adding a third oxygen atom does not create an ion unless they are short of, or have a surplus of electrons... they don't.

    Regards, Farrah.
    Farrah, aren't molecules also potentially ionised and can therefore be referred to as ions?

    If I can rabbit on a bit more about the bonding of hydrogen and oxygen - I've just googled it. Apparently hydrogen - albeit abundant - has escaped into our upper atmosphere. Else it's only present in molecular forms - which accounts for the fact that we're not losing oxygen to the spontaneous creation of water. It worried me enough to look it up LOL.

    Anyway I have much to learn here. Thanks for all the info.

    Comment


    • #32
      Hi Rosemary

      Farrah, aren't molecules also potentially ionised and can therefore be referred to as ions?
      Yes, molecules can be ions too, take for example the Hydroxide ion, OH-, formed when water ionises. But I'm not aware that O2 molecule actually ionises in the creation of O3.

      If this is not the case, then please someone cite a credible reference to O2 ionising to form O3.

      Regards, Farrah.

      Comment


      • #33
        Sorry! You are correct. the O3 molecule is triatomic and stable. I did not mean to look at Ozone in particular, but to look at how it becomes Ozone. It is my understanding O+ will combine with O2 to form O3. Is this correct? My focus was meant to look closer to the formation of the O+. I do not believe the coronal discharge method involves electrons being excited to a higher energy level like how UV and IR-B do. I am under the impression the potential alone can and will strip an electron from an atom depending on the strength of the atom and strength of potential.
        Last edited by HairBear; 04-16-2010, 11:16 PM.

        Comment


        • #34
          Originally posted by HairBear View Post
          The biggest problem I can see right away is the arcing between the plates. How do you suppose I can keep a high potential between two plates without the current flowing?
          Some patent insulate the electrode with glass. I do smell ozone and even hear the plate ringing in my insulated experiment. I use my 100mA sting oscillator and car coil.

          Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
          Ionisers use sharp needles to concentrate the potential and do not provide an earth source or return like our WFC.
          It is not only that. Any device that can force an atom to ionize is an ionizer. And there are many things that can ionize an atom.

          Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
          Both methods excite electrons, the O2 becomes unstable as a molecule and dissociates, but it is extremely unstable as an atom, so quickly recombines with another stable O2 molecule.
          Pulsed DC will allow them to separate longer compared to AC or stable DC.
          Last edited by sucahyo; 04-17-2010, 04:33 AM.

          Comment


          • #35
            Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
            Hi Rosemary
            Yes, molecules can be ions too, take for example the Hydroxide ion, OH-, formed when water ionises. But I'm not aware that O2 molecule actually ionises in the creation of O3.

            If this is not the case, then please someone cite a credible reference to O2 ionising to form O3.

            Regards, Farrah.
            Got it. Of course. The O3 is just another 'attached' atom. No more nor less electrons.

            Your topic here is electrolysis - so, hopefully this is not off topic. In the 'recharge' of a battery you effectively re-assemble your electrolyte - say sulphuric acid - from it's previous bonding with the lead plates? Is that right? There's no addition of electrons to that mix because there's been no elmination of electrons in the decoupling of that sulphuric acid in the first instance. Is this not a process of fission and fusion - but here applied to molecules rather than atoms? Effectively, the first ionised molecular bond is broken. Sulphur to lead, to release hydrogen. And then hydrogen combined to the water to produce hard water. The electron count in the hydrogen atom is constant. The electron count in the sulphur is constant. But their new molecular arrangement is varied. Then in the recharge of that battery, again no new electrons added to the mix. The third hydrogen atom is decoupled from the oxygen and reassembles with the sulphur. And that electrolytic imbalance is re-established.

            So. If electrons formed the current flow - which I'm not disputing here, I'm only questioning, - then those electrons have been 'reshuffled' somehow from that first mix and simply organised themselves according to the direction of current flow or according to the applied voltage imbalance and then recongregated into the new molecular arrangement. You see Farrah? The electrons would have had to be 'taken out' of the hydrogen atom first - before they could be assembled back into the 'mix' to form hard water. Hydrogen only has one electron (excepting dueterion and titium) - and stripped of it's electron we have a proton. When do we ever have evidence that your standard lead/acid battery is a proton generator?

            That's why I'm inclined to think that electrolysis is something else. I believe we are simply influencing the bound condition of those atoms - not the atoms themselves. It's something outside the atomic structure but yet belongs to the atom - or is 'housed' by the atom. But it's invisible - which is a good thing. Our astrophyicists need this 'invisible' energy source.

            Then there's the question of energy cost. If we want to disassociate just two hydrogen atoms from one oxygen atom then we'd need to apply conditions of pressure and heat that are really expensive. And if we want to dissasociate hard water from 'soft' then we already know how to do this. We do it in batteries. But the actual cost of this energy is also in the actual manufacture of dedicated mixes such as sulphuric acid and in the creation of those lead plates in the first instance. Then the use of that energy - according to mainstream is still subject to a loss only. I see a lot of attention given to cold fusion but even the Fleishmann-Pons experiments used exotic materials such as hard water with palladium electrodes. What is the cost of assembling those materials?

            Then look at the resistance of atoms to heat. Just take the fact that our sun only converts hydrogen to helium. It can't make a more complex atom. In fact the only time it's considered possible is in exploding stars. Atoms withstand extraordinary punishment and neither chemistry or heat make much material difference to that strong force. The best we can do is to make it anionic or cationic. And then we can use that natural imbalance to generate some sort of change to produce some sort of energy.

            But what flows? What causes that bonding? It's evident that covalent bonding results in an equitable distribution of charge. It's reasonable to assume some natural chemical process organises this. But then we still come back to that hotly debated topic - what causes current flow in the first instance - if the application of current or voltage is first required to rearrange those molecules?

            Then take fire. We have nuclear fire - in suns, that is apparently different to the 'fire' in hot metals and is yet different to 'flame' that we see in everyday life. Some form of nuclear fire is apparently required to generate our complex atoms - but fire, as in 'flames' or in the heating and subsequent expansion of metals, makes absolutely no material difference to the structure of those atoms that may thereby be dissassociated by that 'fire'. As with current flow this cannot reasonably be attributed to the 'change' in the electron count of an electrolytic mix - nor can flame or fire materially alter the structure of the atom.

            So. We can say that electrolysis results in the change to the structure of the atoms or the molecules. But it depends on an applied electric current or applied voltage - or applied pressure or applied heat - to first effect that change. That's all. That's the only solution given by mainstream - from what I can see. It says nothing about what makes that current, what causes the applied voltage imbalance and what generates that flame. Which is why I propose that fire and bonding and the rest - may simply be from an external source to the atomic structure itself and may account for the molecular and all bonded states of atoms. And since all applications of electrolysis depends first on an applied electric field, then - that's the right question. What makes that electric force?

            Abject apologies if this is off topic. But I rather suspect it goes to the heart of your question. I do hope so.
            Last edited by witsend; 04-17-2010, 06:44 AM. Reason: typos. Lots of them.

            Comment


            • #36
              Hi Rosemary

              Your topic here is electrolysis - so, hopefully this is not off topic. In the 'recharge' of a battery you effectively re-assemble your electrolyte - say sulphuric acid - from it's previous bonding with the lead plates? Is that right? There's no addition of electrons to that mix because there's been no elmination of electrons in the decoupling of that sulphuric acid in the first instance. Is this not a process of fission and fusion - but here applied to molecules rather than atoms? Effectively, the first ionised molecular bond is broken. Sulphur to lead, to release hydrogen. And then hydrogen combined to the water to produce hard water. The electron count in the hydrogen atom is constant. The electron count in the sulphur is constant. But their new molecular arrangement is varied. Then in the recharge of that battery, again no new electrons added to the mix. The third hydrogen atom is decoupled from the oxygen and reassembles with the sulphur. And that electrolytic imbalance is re-established.
              You threw me a bit of a googly here as it's been a while since I looked at the electrochemical reactions taking place within a lead acid battery.

              Certainly not off topic though, as I too tend to think that more is occurring in these processes (or in a very different manner) to what is generally accepted.

              Bear in mind that everything I add here is what I understand to be happening from what mainstream science tells us, so is open to interpretation.

              Right. In such reactions there are no reduction in electrons, they simply move about through the system, just the same as in an electrolyser. Of course any gas evolving does take electrons with it as part of its atomic or molecular arrangement, but electrons alone are not thought to leave the system. So the system as a whole remains overall electrically neutral.

              Fusion. I thought this term was used to describe the process by which the nucleus of elements became fused to form a completely different element. As in H + H – He. I would not consider to use the term fusion to describe, for example, the bonding of two hydrogen atoms into a hydrogen molecule. But this may simply be the way I have become used to associating the term.

              Not sure what you mean by ‘hard water’. I only know this term as used to describe water which contains a lot of dissolved minerals. When you say hydrogen combine to water are you talking about H+ combining to form H3O+?

              I’m more comfortable with the reactions in an electrolyser than a lead-acid battery, so without researching that further, I struggling to address all your points.

              So. If electrons formed the current flow - which I'm not disputing here, I'm only questioning, - then those electrons have been 'reshuffled' somehow from that first mix and simply organised themselves according to the direction of current flow or according to the applied voltage imbalance and then recongregated into the new molecular arrangement. You see Farrah? The electrons would have had to be 'taken out' of the hydrogen atom first - before they could be assembled back into the 'mix' to form hard water. Hydrogen only has one electron (excepting dueterion and titium) - and stripped of it's electron we have a proton. When do we ever have evidence that your standard lead/acid battery is a proton generator?
              Rosemary, remember mainstream science says that within liquids, the electron itself is not the charge carrier. In liquids ions are the charge carriers, and there is a two-way current flow of cations and anions. So although the electron (or lack of) is still responsible for the charge, it is only as part of an atom (ion) or molecule.

              Likewise a standard electrolyser could then be classed as a proton generator, as the water molecule dissociates into OH- and H+. So we have certainly generated a proton, but it is so unstable that it immediately bonds with water molecule to form H3O+. Apparently this happens in mere femtoseconds.

              Too be absolutely honest, I’m not sure just how much science has been undisputedly proven to be fact regarding the processes involved, and what is simply the generally accepted theory. One thing that does seem undisputable fact though, is that an electrolyser does indeed evolve Hydrogen at the cathode and Oxygen at the anode.

              That's why I'm inclined to think that electrolysis is something else. I believe we are simply influencing the bound condition of those atoms - not the atoms themselves. It's something outside the atomic structure but yet belongs to the atom - or is 'housed' by the atom. But it's invisible - which is a good thing. Our astrophyicists need this 'invisible' energy source.
              We’re back to your little zippons here aren’t we Rosemary? I just don’t know, and I’m willing to accept we don’t fully understand how energy within an electrical circuit flows or indeed what the perceived current flow is, but it’s not an easy transition to make.

              Then there's the question of energy cost. If we want to disassociate just two hydrogen atoms from one oxygen atom then we'd need to apply conditions of pressure and heat that are really expensive. And if we want to dissasociate hard water from 'soft' then we already know how to do this. We do it in batteries. But the actual cost of this energy is also in the actual manufacture of dedicated mixes such as sulphuric acid and in the creation of those lead plates in the first instance. Then the use of that energy - according to mainstream is still subject to a loss only. I see a lot of attention given to cold fusion but even the Fleishmann-Pons experiments used exotic materials such as hard water with palladium electrodes. What is the cost of assembling those materials?

              Then look at the resistance of atoms to heat. Just take the fact that our sun only converts hydrogen to helium. It can't make a more complex atom. In fact the only time it's considered possible is in exploding stars. Atoms withstand extraordinary punishment and neither chemistry or heat make much material difference to that strong force. The best we can do is to make it anionic or cationic. And then we can use that natural imbalance to generate some sort of change to produce some sort of energy.
              Energy cost certainly comes into the equation, and as long as we continue to get less energy out of the required reaction than it takes to get to that point in the first place, we will always be working at a loss. But you can dissociate H20 on 2H2 and O2 in an electrolyser for around 1.5volts and a fraction of an amp, so it’s not like we need a nuclear reactor to do it. It’s simply far from 100% efficient.

              I can’t comment on cold fusion as I’ve never researched it thoroughly. The only thing that has stayed with me was that the original Fleishmann-Pons cold fusion claims were ultimately thrown out due to inconsistencies in the way the experiment was conducted leading to errors.

              I only work with tap water and relatively cheap and plentiful, stainless steel!

              But what flows? What causes that bonding? It's evident that covalent bonding results in an equitable distribution of charge. It's reasonable to assume some natural chemical process organises this. But then we still come back to that hotly debated topic - what causes current flow in the first instance - if the application of current or voltage is first required to rearrange those molecules?

              Then take fire. We have nuclear fire - in suns, that is apparently different to the 'fire' in hot metals and is yet different to 'flame' that we see in everyday life. Some form of nuclear fire is apparently required to generate our complex atoms - but fire, as in 'flames' or in the heating and subsequent expansion of metals, makes absolutely no material difference to the structure of those atoms that may thereby be dissassociated by that 'fire'. As with current flow this cannot reasonably be attributed to the 'change' in the electron count of an electrolytic mix - nor can flame or fire materially alter the structure of the atom.

              So. We can say that electrolysis results in the change to the structure of the atoms or the molecules. But it depends on an applied electric current or applied voltage - or applied pressure or applied heat - to first effect that change. That's all. That's the only solution given by mainstream - from what I can see. It says nothing about what makes that current, what causes the applied voltage imbalance and what generates that flame. Which is why I propose that fire and bonding and the rest - may simply be from an external source to the atomic structure itself and may account for the molecular and all bonded states of atoms. And since all applications of electrolysis depends first on an applied electric field, then - that's the right question. What makes that electric force?
              I see where you are coming from. It’s a bit like the chicken and the egg… which came first?

              We need a potential difference in order to initiate current flow, but we need current to flow to a point in order to create a potential difference in the first place! The chicken and the egg!

              I have to say, this is the point that niggles me most.

              {QUOTE]Abject apologies if this is off topic. But I rather suspect it goes to the heart of your question. I do hope so.[/QUOTE]

              To me, talking science is never off-topic when is well-considered and thoughtful.

              Farrah

              Comment


              • #37
                HB

                It is my understanding O+ will combine with O2 to form O3. Is this correct?
                I don't believe so, no. That would give you O3+.

                Electrons do not leave the atoms in the process, they are simply excited into a different state/orbit, which is then no longer conducive to maintaining the molecule status. The O2 dissociates into two higher energy oxygen atoms, each of which then latches onto a stable O2 oxygen molecule upon contact.

                Farrah

                Comment


                • #38
                  Hi Farrah - I see you on line. I need to digest your reply and will try and get this answered later this evening.

                  LOVE THE SUBJECT.

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    Right. In such reactions there are no reduction in electrons, they simply move about through the system, just the same as in an electrolyser. Of course any gas evolving does take electrons with it as part of its atomic or molecular arrangement, but electrons alone are not thought to leave the system. So the system as a whole remains overall electrically neutral.
                    Ok. So I take it than that the hydrogen that's been freed from it's bond to sulphur can then bubble through the electrolyte. The question here is does the hydrogen atom lose it's electron so that the electrons can cause the 'flow of current'? The understanding is that there are no extraneous electrons introduced to the system.

                    It still strikes me that the term 'cold fusion' refers to the rearrangement of molecules rather than atoms. In the Fleischmann-Pons number there was reference to the release of some fundamental particles but this, apparently, was never actually a part of their claim.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    Not sure what you mean by ‘hard water’. I only know this term as used to describe water which contains a lot of dissolved minerals. When you say hydrogen combine to water are you talking about H+ combining to form H3O+?
                    Yes. I never realised that hard water referred to anything else. Sorry. LOL. I thought H3O WAS hard water.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    Rosemary, remember mainstream science says that within liquids, the electron itself is not the charge carrier. In liquids ions are the charge carriers, and there is a two-way current flow of cations and anions. So although the electron (or lack of) is still responsible for the charge, it is only as part of an atom (ion) or molecule.
                    So then. Here's my question. If hydrogen separates from the sulphur bond - which it does, and as it's not an ion, but simply an atom - then, is this hydrogen therefore not considered to be a charge carrier? As I see it these are the options. The hydrogen does not lose it's electron - and therefore we still need some kind of 'charge carrier' to generate the current flow. Or it does lose its electron and their electrons then flow as current through the circuit? Then these same electrons re-enter the electrolyte mix either at the positive or the negative terminal (I've heard both options by different engineers). And it then rebonds with the hydrogen atom. AND - at the same time as it rebonds it also then links the hydrogen to your standard water molecule making H3O. I suppose this is theoretically correct. But how does that electron separate from the hydrogen to generate that current flow? Under usual circumstances - hydrogen gas can be collected and stored without losing that electron. What - in that electrolyte mix induces it to first lose that electron? If indeed it does?

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    Likewise a standard electrolyser could then be classed as a proton generator, as the water molecule dissociates into OH- and H+. So we have certainly generated a proton, but it is so unstable that it immediately bonds with water molecule to form H3O+. Apparently this happens in mere femtoseconds.
                    I notice that in the bonding you're referring to the creation of H3 to oxygen. Presumably then we start with H3 before that disassociation? Or do we then get some random mix of hydrogen and oxygen? Sorry to ask simple questions like this. I'm rather depending on your patience. There are some things that I simply can't find on google.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    Too be absolutely honest, I’m not sure just how much science has been undisputedly proven to be fact regarding the processes involved, and what is simply the generally accepted theory. One thing that does seem undisputable fact though, is that an electrolyser does indeed evolve Hydrogen at the cathode and Oxygen at the anode.
                    I get it. But then neither the hydrogen nor the oxygen are ions. So where did they get that charge? And, more to the point - what carried that charge?

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    We’re back to your little zippons here aren’t we Rosemary?
                    LOL Definitely not. I'm looking for something outside the atom is all. But that's only because I can't see it within the atom. It's not from want of trying.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    I just don’t know, and I’m willing to accept we don’t fully understand how energy within an electrical circuit flows or indeed what the perceived current flow is, but it’s not an easy transition to make.
                    Farrah - there is no need to make any transition to any new concepts. But it would certainly help to look for an alternate explanation - unless and until mainstream can give some more precise answers. Perhaps my level of understanding is just way too simplistic. And there's no question I'm painfully literal. Probably a whole bunch of subtleties that I'm not familiar with.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    Energy cost certainly comes into the equation, and as long as we continue to get less energy out of the required reaction than it takes to get to that point in the first place, we will always be working at a loss. But you can dissociate H20 on 2H2 and O2 in an electrolyser for around 1.5volts and a fraction of an amp, so it’s not like we need a nuclear reactor to do it. It’s simply far from 100% efficient.
                    I never realised it was this simple. In which case, no wonder it's so seductive as a concept. Like I said. I love the idea of getting energy this cleanly and this efficiently.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    I can’t comment on cold fusion as I’ve never researched it thoroughly. The only thing that has stayed with me was that the original Fleishmann-Pons cold fusion claims were ultimately thrown out due to inconsistencies in the way the experiment was conducted leading to errors.
                    I guess so. That's certainly what I've read. But what I find EXTRAORDINARY is that such respectable scientists would jeopardise their good names with such outrageous claims if they were entirely false. It niggles. Seems awfully reckless and neither of them had a history of being reckless. But you notice they also refer to this as fusion - yet they actually don't claim to fuse atoms at all.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    I only work with tap water and relatively cheap and plentiful, stainless steel!
                    Golly. I didn't actually realise you did active experimentation. I'm so impressed.

                    Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                    We need a potential difference in order to initiate current flow, but we need current to flow to a point in order to create a potential difference in the first place! The chicken and the egg!

                    I have to say, this is the point that niggles me most.
                    Me too.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Actually I've rabbited on about the re-entry of electrons into the battery via the terminals - whichever is required. But here's my actual question. If the electron transfers back into the body of the battery itself it has to transition through the terminal material itself. How does it do this? Is it assumed that it's done by 'electron drift'? The one valence electron releasing the next in some kind of synchronous dance step? If so, it would take about 5 minutes to re-enter - that's according to the known velocity of electron drift. If it simply passes through then it does something that scientists can't do experimentally. They can barely get electrons through thin gold leaf. Another practical difficulty I need to get my mind around. LOL.

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Hi Rosemary

                        Ok. So I take it than that the hydrogen that's been freed from it's bond to sulphur can then bubble through the electrolyte. The question here is does the hydrogen atom lose it's electron so that the electrons can cause the 'flow of current'? The understanding is that there are no extraneous electrons introduced to the system.
                        The hydrogen is always in ion form (the proton) in these reactions, not an atom, so is not an atomic gas that will float off. It is an aqueous ion bound within the liquid medium.

                        In an electrolyser the water ionises into an aqueous proton and an aqueous hydroxide molecule OH- (being more electropositive the oxygen atom effectively steals the hydrogen atoms electron). So the hydroxide ion takes the electron from the hydrogen atom during the dissociation, leaving just an aqueous proton.

                        Likewise, sulphuric acid in water ionises into 2H+ and SO4--, so this also results in two aqueous protons. And again, these ions are charge carriers capable of current flow within the fluid. But again, no hydrogen atoms.

                        In the electrolysis of water, these ions carry the charges through the liquid only exchanging charges at the electrodes. So these ions effectively complete the circuit (cct) allowing current to flow.

                        Actually I've rabbited on about the re-entry of electrons into the battery via the terminals - whichever is required. But here's my actual question. If the electron transfers back into the body of the battery itself it has to transition through the terminal material itself. How does it do this? Is it assumed that it's done by 'electron drift'? The one valence electron releasing the next in some kind of synchronous dance step? If so, it would take about 5 minutes to re-enter - that's according to the known velocity of electron drift. If it simply passes through then it does something that scientists can't do experimentally. They can barely get electrons through thin gold leaf. Another practical difficulty I need to get my mind around. LOL.
                        I always assumed that electron drift and indeed the rate of drift of any given electron was not of major concern because of my ballbearing analogy. And I see electrons as being absorbed into the metal like water being absorbed into a dry sponge. I would then liken the saturated sponge to a metal with neutral charge (or no potential difference across it). Hence unable to accept further water/charges.

                        Yes I remember someone years ago experimenting with firing electrons through a thin metal (can't remember what metal - maybe gold). Most electrons did not pass through, but every now and then one would hit a reactive screen placed behind the metal target. And for the first time scientists began to see solids as not-quite-so-solid - eventually concluding that atoms comprise mainly of space.

                        As I mentioned in earlier posts we do tend to take much for granted, all too often blindly accepting things and blatantly failing to question things that really should be questioned.

                        Like you, I have many more questions than I do answers.

                        Farrah

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Rosemary

                          You may or may not have seen this, but if not, with your little zippons in mind, you might find it interesting bedtime reading:

                          Magnetic Current - Radio Craft Articles 1944

                          Farrah

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Farrah, thanks for link. I'll check it out when I can first get it printed.

                            ta

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Ok then, back to the subject of ‘basic electrolysis’… or not… and what we think we know.

                              The point I was trying to make is that most people take too much for granted and accept things without question, mistakenly then assuming that they know and fully understand the whole process.

                              In truth, I daresay most of us really have no idea of all the reactions and processes involved other than what we were taught at school. And clearly to some extent this is borne out here.

                              It is quite apparent from the replies on this thread that many of you do not have any issue with the processes or reactions… or at least you don’t think you do.

                              But, ask the right question and suddenly answers aren’t quite so easy to come by, and big holes immediately open in what you thought you fully understood.

                              But of course, this will never happen if you don’t ask the questions.

                              Take for example plain water in an electrolyser. With a pd of 2 volts across the cell, electrolysis is initiated.

                              Water ionises into H+ and OH- ions. The very unstable H+ ion bonds with the nearest available water molecule or cluster, forming an hydronium ion H3O+, and the proton gradually makes its way to the cathode via the Grotthus Mechanism.

                              How many of you simply thought that the H+ ion made it's way through the liquid medium as a single proton? I know I used to think just that!

                              The H+ takes an electron from the cathode to become a hydrogen atom, which then combines with another hydrogen atom to evolve as H2 gas. Seems fairly straight-forward.

                              Conversely, the OH- travels through the liquid medium (through one process or another) to the anode. Here it gives up it’s electron to become OH, so we have an aqueous oxygen atom and a aqueous hydrogen atom. The oxygen atom combines with another oxygen atom to form an oxygen molecule and evolves as gas.

                              So here’s the thing… what happens to the aqueous hydrogen atom that remains at the anode?

                              I hand it over to those of you that think you fully understand basic electrolysis to provide the answer… any takers?

                              Most electrolysis websites show the reactions and half reactions of the process, but do not attempt to elaborate further.

                              It’s not a trick question, and there is an answer to this, it’s just that it is not often - if ever - detailed or described.

                              Regards, Farrah.

                              It’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts!

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post

                                So here’s the thing… what happens to the aqueous hydrogen atom that remains at the anode?
                                It’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts!
                                Hi Farrah - didn't you give us the answer here?

                                Originally posted by Farrah Day View Post
                                Likewise a standard electrolyser could then be classed as a proton generator, as the water molecule dissociates into OH- and H+. So we have certainly generated a proton, but it is so unstable that it immediately bonds with water molecule to form H3O+. Apparently this happens in mere femtoseconds.

                                EDITED Actually that's wrong. Sorry. I'm going to try this again.
                                LOL

                                EDITED AGAIN My guess is that it collects an electron and then forms a spare hydrogen atom - which can then be channelled away and used? Anyway - that's my contribution as an amateur.
                                Last edited by witsend; 04-18-2010, 02:50 PM.

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