When water is electrolyzed, two gases ar produced. As indicated in the chemical equation, twice the volume of one gas is produced compared to the other.
a) Which gas is produced in larger quantities? Explain
* I think it's hydrogen, but i am not sure why we need more hydrogen.
b)How could you test the gases to confirm your choice?
the formula for water is H2O. Therefore, two atoms of hydrogen are released for each atom of oxygen. You could test the gases by putting them in a balloon and seeing which one floats.
a) You are correct. Hydrogen gas (H2) is produced in larger quantities during the electrolysis of water. This can be explained by understanding the chemical reaction that occurs during electrolysis.
During electrolysis, water (H2O) molecules are broken down into their constituent elements by passing an electric current through them. The overall chemical equation for the electrolysis of water is as follows:
2 H2O(l) → 2 H2(g) + O2(g)
From the equation, you can see that for every 2 molecules of water that are electrolyzed, 2 molecules of hydrogen gas (H2) and 1 molecule of oxygen gas (O2) are produced. However, it's important to note that gases tend to occupy more space compared to liquids or solids at the same temperature and pressure.
Since Avogadro's law tells us that equal volumes of gases, at the same temperature and pressure, contain an equal number of molecules, we can conclude that the larger volume of gas produced will correspond to the gas with greater molar quantity.
In this case, because twice the volume of one gas is produced compared to the other, it means that hydrogen gas is produced in larger quantities compared to oxygen gas.
b) To test the gases and confirm which one is produced in larger quantities, you could perform the following experiment:
1. Collect the gases separately: Place the electrodes from the electrolysis setup in two separate containers filled with water. Pass an electric current through the water to initiate the electrolysis. Collect the gases released at the electrodes by using inverted test tubes or gas collection tubes.
2. Measure the volumes: After a sufficient amount of gas has been collected, measure the volume of each gas sample. This can be done by measuring the displacement of water from a graduated cylinder or burette.
3. Compare the volumes: Compare the volumes of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas collected. Since, according to the chemical equation, hydrogen gas is produced in twice the volume compared to oxygen gas, you should observe that the volume of hydrogen gas is greater than the volume of oxygen gas.
By comparing the volumes of the gases, you can confirm that hydrogen gas is indeed produced in larger quantities during the electrolysis of water.