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Technology / How does electrolysis actually work?
« on: 27/07/2008 20:44:16 »
I didn't come on here to get into a pie throwing contest, I'm simply asking a legitimate question to which no one as yet given me an answer.
Sophie, if I had an explanation, however brilliant or not I wouldn't be asking the question. I simply thought there may be someone that already knew the answer. Is that asking too much?
From past posts you seem pretty level-headed, so I can't quite understand your post given that BC has actually explained nothing to me in his!
Is the above really supposed to be an explanation?! I would have settled for an intelligent reply - I thought he was just taking the P*** - hence my somewhat frustrated response.
You seem to be offended to my response to BC's post, but I can get a bucket full of those kind of responses from the numerous 'muppet laden' water fuel/watercar forums. This being a science forum I expected at least an intelligent answer.. that's all.
And you say this as though something has actually been explained... Where? What?
This is a shame I had high hopes you might be able to help me on this.
I don't think either of you are getting the gist of my question. If neither of you can help then OK, but let's not waste time posting for postings sake!
Try this:
1) If oxygen and hydrogen are evolved is it from the ionisation of H2O?
2) If yes, how exactly is this reaction increased by the passing of an electric current?
3) What reaction takes place at the electrodes when an electrolyte is used?
I think you will find the answer is not quite as straight-forward as high school science would have us believe!
Sophie, if I had an explanation, however brilliant or not I wouldn't be asking the question. I simply thought there may be someone that already knew the answer. Is that asking too much?
From past posts you seem pretty level-headed, so I can't quite understand your post given that BC has actually explained nothing to me in his!
Quote
"Exactly how and why does an ion current through water cause ionisation of the water? "
It doesn't.
The ions form when the electrolyte dissolves in the water.
The reaction is H2SO4 --> 2H+ + SO4--
"but how does this increase ionisation of water given that these ions actually play no part in the final reaction?"
it doesn't
Is the above really supposed to be an explanation?! I would have settled for an intelligent reply - I thought he was just taking the P*** - hence my somewhat frustrated response.
You seem to be offended to my response to BC's post, but I can get a bucket full of those kind of responses from the numerous 'muppet laden' water fuel/watercar forums. This being a science forum I expected at least an intelligent answer.. that's all.
And you say this as though something has actually been explained... Where? What?
Quote
BC - shame on you for holding with the established scientific models!
This is a shame I had high hopes you might be able to help me on this.
I don't think either of you are getting the gist of my question. If neither of you can help then OK, but let's not waste time posting for postings sake!
Try this:
1) If oxygen and hydrogen are evolved is it from the ionisation of H2O?
2) If yes, how exactly is this reaction increased by the passing of an electric current?
3) What reaction takes place at the electrodes when an electrolyte is used?
I think you will find the answer is not quite as straight-forward as high school science would have us believe!