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Separate Hydrogen and Oxygen from Water Through Electrolysis

Separate Hydrogen and Oxygen from Water Through Electrolysis
Electrolysis a method of separating elements by pushing an electric current through a compound. It is used in various industrial applications such as removing copper from its ore. It is also used to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water. Electrolysis isn't the most efficient way to obtain hydrogen, but it is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to "homebrew" hydrogen.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. With the "green-energy" craze and talk of powering our future oil-free economy on hydrogen, it has gotten much attention in the last few years. Learning about this potential fuel of the future is important and interesting. Besides, hydrogen is a powerful fuel, and blowing stuff up in the name of science is fun .

 
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Step 1Electrolysis of Water - An Explanation

Electrolysis of Water - An Explanation
This section is an explanation of the electrolysis of water, feel free to skip it if you don't find it interesting.

2H2O(l) = 2H2(g) + O2(g)

As everyone knows a water molecule is formed by two elements: two positive Hydrogen ions and one negative Oxygen ion. The water molecule is held together by the electromagnetic attraction between these ions. When electricity is introduced to water through two electrodes, a cathode (negative) and an anode (positive), these ions are attracted to the opposite charged electrode. Therefore the positively charged hydrogen ions will collect on the cathode and the negatively charged oxygen will collect on the anode.

When these ions come into contact with their respective electrodes they either gain or lose electrons depending on there ionic charge. (In this case the hydrogen gains electrons and the oxygen loses them) In doing so these ions balance their charges, and become real, electrically balanced, bona fide atoms (or in the case of the hydrogen, a molecule).

The reason this system isn't very efficient is because some of the electrical energy is converted into heat during the process. There have been reports of 50%-70% efficiency, but I doubt that is possible in a home environment. Anyway, enough with the boring stuff, lets go make some gas!
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May 26, 2012. 9:20 AMeXtremeSomething says:
Anode is positive , positive is a + symbol and is usually red, so there is something screwed up with that diagram.
Apr 23, 2012. 6:54 AMAgentPerry147 says:
Hello Guys Good eves!

Ammm! Is there a possibility that a car with its piston engines can be powered by only water (with of course the help of electrolysis) and totally replace the car's dependence from petroleum?

Well I have a hypothesis, the H2 and the O2 are both volatile materials and when mixed and crushed can power the pistons in a car engine.

Is this possible!

Any answer will be appreciated!
Apr 23, 2012. 7:59 PMRedAlert602 says:
Are you talking about liquid oxygen and hydrogen? Or the gases?
Oct 3, 2010. 11:49 AMh3x_your_nightmare says:
salt is NaCl! so in water that green-yellowish coloured thing is chlorine! DO NOT BREATH THAT GAS! MAKE'S YOUR LUNGS LIKE A WET SPONGE AND THAT MEANS A SLOW BUT PAINFULL DEATH!
Mar 2, 2011. 3:11 PMEl Mano says:
They're both ionic salts. NaCl produces Cl2, baking soda produces CO; what makes NaOH the salt of choice?
Mar 13, 2011. 5:57 PMsquiggy2 says:
all three of those salts are equally effective - it's just that health risks must be considered.

Cl2 is highly toxic to the lungs - and has immediate consequences.

Prolonged exposure to CO causes CO poisoning, where CO bonds with your red blood cells, and the can no longer take in oxygen. This will go away after a while (weeks) if you don't get it so badly that you die. ie. better than CL2

NaOH is the safest because it produces no harmful byproducts.
However, if you are in a position where you can choose salts, go for a sulfate (as mentioned below) because it does not take part in any of the reactions, so you end up with just H2 and O2.
Sulfuric acid is a good one, and it can be found in off-the-shelf cleaning products (drain cleaner?)
Apr 8, 2012. 5:01 PMgauzz says:
How about Bicarbonate or Sodium bicarbonate?
Apr 8, 2012. 11:55 PMsquiggy2 says:
Sodium bicarbonate is the scientific name for baking soda. So see El Mano's reply. But in reference to that, @El Mano I've done some reading and to me it seems that bicarbonate is a fine electrolyte and does not react at all itself, unless it gets too hot, when it will decompose into CO2. What are your sources for saying it will electrolyse to CO?
Apr 10, 2012. 7:13 PMgauzz says:
Yeah txh, I'm just looking something that won't injure me or kill me, somehing that will produce the purest hydrogen and oxigen as a result.
Apr 10, 2012. 10:07 PMsquiggy2 says:
My personal favorite is sulfuric acid. You can buy it for ~$7/L at autobarn labeled as battery acid. It's a bit dangerous as it is in the bottle, but you can dilute it with 3 parts water, or keep it as is. As long as you don't spill it, it will produce pure hydrogen and oxygen, and never deplete. Once you've bought it, it's there forever. You can have it on your skin for a few minutes without bad things happening, after which you should wash your hands, but it does destroy clothes. Also make sure you use PVC or Perspex to contain it. Coke bottles will dissolve.
Apr 19, 2012. 10:31 PMmilessw says:
Just a safety tip when dealing with Sulfuric Acid especially when it is concentrated...
***Always add ACID to WATER when diluting.***

Adding water to a container with pure or near pure Sulfuric acid is a bit like dropping a Mint in a soda bottle it will boil quite violently and go everywhere..
Apr 20, 2012. 9:17 AMsquiggy2 says:
here here!
Apr 11, 2012. 2:47 AMgauzz says:
That's exactly what I was looking for. I don't want to extract the oxigen to breath it, just want to be safe :)
Apr 3, 2012. 2:20 PMmaestrocaldwell says:
Just be careful of NaOH in high concentrations. It's a strong base, and at high concentrations it can melt your skin.
Mar 27, 2012. 9:13 PMgauzz says:
One question. Is it possible to remove the water bridge and place a wire or conductor instead? To isolate better hydrogen and oxigen.
Mar 29, 2012. 10:42 AMCandymanproductions says:
no, because then each chamber would have a separate cathode and anode, thus producing both gases in each chamber. I tried it too
Mar 31, 2012. 12:23 PMgauzz says:
That's what I was fearing.

Thanks.
Apr 7, 2012. 5:40 AMCandymanproductions says:
I'm glad I could help you
Aug 23, 2010. 2:38 PMonebadvette says:
One thing people need to keep in mind with this kind of setup is that you are not going to get the kind of flow required to do any kind of work that will help MPG. These HHO system type things are sold on ebay with plans etc. The amount of work and energy required to get a substantial amount of gas is...substantial. I don't have a degree in physics, but used to run a machine that was designed to make pure O2 for submarines. It required 1050 amps of DC current to produce 120scfh with double that for Hydrogen which we disposed of overboard. The amount of gas produced from a 12 volt source is not enough to help your car. It's a cool science experiment for school, but that's about it. Former MM2(SS) A-gang type. (google what that is. I also used to run the CO2 scrubbers and COH2 burners for atmosphere control.)
Mar 13, 2012. 2:26 PMakinich says:
hey i have 1 question for you
the machine would use sea water and give out o2 right

but when sodium chloride is an electrolyte in water during electrolysis
the gases given out are chlorine and hydrogen
how did you over come this obstacle
thanks in advance
akinich
Jan 30, 2012. 7:13 AMgrapenut says:
1050 amps = about 7 solar panels on a sunny day
Feb 29, 2012. 6:55 PMalanwms says:
Not true. You can't even flow 1050 amps down a regular home wiring because it only handles 20 amps.
Go study some more would ya
Mar 26, 2012. 12:21 PMtmind says:
LOL,

A home is 60-100 amp, a branch circuit off the main is 15-30 amps.

I cannot say study more because youd need an electrical license but your point is vaild, it most likely makes .01 microamps.
Dec 14, 2010. 3:57 AMdaddyo44907 says:
I have to disagree with you. I have worked with HHO for 7 years. Our engines receive 14.7 parts of air to each part of fuel vapor. The oxygen content of that is is 20% or less. That is not enough oxygen to burn all of the hydrocarbons. The result is carbon monoxide and a few other greenhouse gases. Adding more oxygen content --- to the metered air --- will increase the burn so that more of the metered fuel is burned and less metered fuel makes it out the exhaust. Oxygen is an oxidizer, without it, the chemical process of combustion will not produce a flame. The more oxidizer, the hotter the flame. People that are using HHO in their vehicles have near zero greenhouse emissions. The engines run smoother, have more power, oil changes are fewer, fuel economy follows -- if and only if the government mandated vehicle computers allow it. They are programmed to maintain 14.7 parts of air for each part of fuel vapor. There lies the problem with fuel economy. The added oxygen, from HHO, does make a positive difference. The added Hydrogen is only a small amount of fuel, but it too makes a difference.
Feb 29, 2012. 7:00 PMalanwms says:
Plus: The water gets hard in the winter - It's called ICE, and if you introduce a heater, you are depleting the engine of even more energy.
Feb 29, 2012. 6:59 PMalanwms says:
Problem is - a 1/4 inch tube supplying a minuscule amount of hydrogen is useless when a vehicle requires huge air intake. Your device produces a constant stream of low volume hydrogen. The vehicle intakes variable amounts of air which are huge numbers.

It gets worse. Your 20 amps at 12 volts = 240 watts. Only 120 watts of hydrogen is produced, so the extra energy required to pump energy into water to produce browns gas equates to a net loss.

Get over it people - It does not work....
Dec 15, 2010. 11:20 PMonebadvette says:
Disagree with ME all you like. You CAN'T disagree with the laws of physics and chemistry. What company do you work for? What degree do you have? 7 years? I ran these machines for the U.S. Navy for 12 years as a Machinist Mate. Don't take it from me, here's a link that will dumb down the physics/ chemistry for you. http://www.aardvark.co.nz/hho_scam.shtml and this http://www.aardvark.co.nz/hho_scam2.shtml Now, I'll gather that your going to reply and state that "no, no, no, you've got it wrong." Okay, what's your source? What are the numbers you are going to give us? Consider this as well. Hot rodders use nitrous to have gains in horsepower. Of course, they add more fuel to the available oxygen, but the pitfall is that there is limited amounts of it stored under pressure. When the bottle runs empty, there goes your source. Reread my initial post. If these things were really that efficient, the Navy would use them on submarines for life support. Not just to get more MPG in your car. The company that makes the machines for the Navy is calld Treadwell and their upgraded machines pump out a whopping 225 cubic feet per HOUR. A car is rated in cubic feet per MINUTE. Big difference even in usage. Also, look at that machine and what it takes to make it work. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/treadwell-supplies-oxygen-generator-components-for-nuclear-subs-2-04690/ If you have a device that puts out that amount of CFM, sell it to them and make millions and I'll be quiet. Until then people, these things are nothing more than a cool experiment to show kids. Here's one more great article totally debunking this. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/gas-mileage/4310717
Feb 29, 2012. 7:08 PMalanwms says:
The funny thing is that the people who believe in this, don'y know the difference between an apm and a hole in the ground.

They need to learn that Watts = Amps x Volts.
They also need to understand that a typical engine produces in excess of 100,000 watts, and a 250 watt draw from a battery is not going to impact the vehicle except to say that the MPG might actually go down due to the inefficiency of the conversion - A well known fact -
Dec 16, 2010. 7:25 AMdaddyo44907 says:
Of course I can disagree with the laws of physics and chemistry. They have been proven wrong many many times. How do you think they got written. Pooof --- there they are? Nadda. John Bedini, Tom Bearden, Howard Johnson; just a few modern day geniuses. It is statements like yours that hold back the future of mankind. You do it because you were taught wrong (you were lied to and made to believe the lie). Let these young people open their minds to possibilities. Don't close or block doors they want to persue, just because you have been there and done that; what might you have missed?

Electrolysis of water is the easiest way to demonstrate the chemical process of separating the ions. Let them do their experiments and let them form their hypothesis; and let them dream of ways to use and improve the knowledge.

As for Nitrous (NOX) --- it is not a fuel --- it is an Oxidizer. Oxides are what make the existing fuel burn hotter.

As for HHO, it only takes one quarter of a liter, per minute, to reduce the harmful emissions that exist in the engine exhaust. Wow, that much. Automobiles are not going to run on HHO, per-say, they are engineered to take in air (they are air pumps). The air dilutes the powerful HHO "perfect fuel". Fossil Fuels need Air in order to burn a flame; HHO does not. HHO is an explosive gas; a perfect mixture. It is many times more powerful than gasoline. I know from experimenting; not from reading what someone wrote about it. Money makes the world go round; Big Oil fuels the world. Big Oil creates the illusions that you read - and believe. Of course, they make it very believable. You can't disagree with the Laws of Physics and Chemistry. Right?
Feb 29, 2012. 7:10 PMalanwms says:
Go put your vehicle on a dyno and show us the results.
Dec 16, 2010. 5:18 PMonebadvette says:
You got at least one thing right....NOS allows you to ADD more fuel because the benefit is an increase in HP. You're statements are more rhetoric than anything. Yes, I think people should push the limits with technology. You have to start somewhere. But to state that this system will increase your MPG's is just rubbish. It won't do that with the current materials and technology. Someday maybe it will. If a new metal or combination of metals that allow a smaller amount of current to allow this process to happen and there is a breakthrough of a catalyst that allows the electrolysis to be near self sustaining, then it would be great. Most of the gasoline that we "burn" is sent out the exhaust pipe.
As to your experiences, what degrees do you have? where have you been published? What field experience do you have other than tinkering around in your garage? One quarter of a liter per minute that reduces emissions. That's your findings? The setup presented here won't make that much. Did you bother checking out the machine from treadwell? They make 225 cubic feet per HOUR. And this is getting electrical power from a nuclear reactor. Think that little box in your car is going to make a quarter liter per minute? Wow. I have ocean front property for you in Arizona. REAL CHEAP. Call me.
Dec 16, 2010. 7:04 PMdaddyo44907 says:
The people here are not claiming this "experiment" will provide more mpg. This apparatus is a visual aid at most. Someday the world skeptics will realize it takes more than a gallon equivalent of gasoline energy --- to make a gallon of gasoline. How is that for efficiency? Care to compare it to making hydrogen? How about the cost of delivery? Hydrogen can be made at the pump; no middle men to mark up the price. Heck, it can be made in the home; in fact, hydrogen was piped to homes as fuel for stoves and furnaces in 200 major cities, long before natural gas was harnessed, Natural gas eventually used those pipes. It cost nothing to manufacture the natural gas - just delivery of a waste product at the time.

HHO gas is easy to manufacture. It is easy to use it to overcome the pollution caused from burning fossil fuels. It is possible to get better mpg with it. It can be manufactured on board as you drive. The same can be accomplished with just adding oxygen to the metered air. The same can be accomplished by just adding hydrogen to the metered air. So tell me, why won't the EPA just allow more metered air? The rest of the world does; and the rest of the world gets better mpg. Pollution from automobiles is man made. In this country, it is mandated to be 14.7 parts air to each part of fuel vapor. That is so that we the people can not easily get better mpg. It is enforced by our automobile computers.

You are correct about one thing. There are some scam companies out there that advertise and guarantee better percentages of fuel efficiencies. There are no guarantees that any one vehicle will get better mpg's. But, there are thousands of silent testimonies out there, that can attest to getting better fuel economy because of HHO. In the beginning, one had to keep their mouth shut in order to keep their HHO Generator.

You have your opinion of the HHO system based on what someone else published, researched. You are welcomed to it. I for one, have my knowledge of HHO based on work and experimenting that I and others like me accomplished by not listening to skeptics. I thank you for keeping me at the grinding wheel. It is my calling.

As for you having Ocean front property in Arizona, tell me how a smart guy like your self, got suckered in to buying it.
Dec 17, 2010. 3:38 AMonebadvette says:
Wow. Your thoughts on this subject are comical at best. HHO can be made at home, and in the car. The sheer VOLUME of gas requried to make the difference in output of the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) in power, MPG, or even just to reduce the greenhouse emissions WILL NOT be attained by a system installed in an automobile with TODAY's technology. In the future? It is a possibility.

I was pretty transparent about my experience with this topic, while yours is still nothing but your meanderings on the internet. Where are you published? If you are so secure in the technology that you are using, where is the proof? What sources do you have that are verifiable and repeatable that meet the common scientific standards? Sorry, but "I have my own knowledge" is nothing more than a faith based standard. No more verifiable than asking someone about the existence of God. It's what they believe in based on faith. I'm looking for scientific data that backs up your statements seeing as how you responded to my statements about how much you need to run a car and that this instructable is for demonstration purposes, not an HHO car conversion post. You chimed in on that. PROVE me wrong and make millions, no BILLIONS in the process. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure this back and forth is moot.
Dec 17, 2010. 6:33 AMdaddyo44907 says:
Well young wippersnapper, you will just have to live a little longer and experience more out of life before you will understand anything someone tells you. Maybe you will grow up to be a scientist or a scientologist. A good start would be for you to pay attention to what you read.

As for it being possible to make HHO in your car, it is possible. We the people are doing it. As for cleaning up the exhaust emissions, only a half pint of HHO per minute is needed for in-town driving. Not very much is it! It takes less than 5 amps to make that much. That is 60 watts of power. Wow, so much power. You can't make that much, but the rest of us can and do.

I am amazed at how one sided your posts are. No wonder you got stuck with lake ocean front property in Arizona.

But something good came out of this. You now have received your first comments on this website. Wow, that must be a 2 year record. By the way, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you know that Profile thingy, well you forgot to fill it out. If you need an example to follow, look up mine.
Oct 18, 2011. 12:31 PMmnoel2 says:
To onebadvette & daddyo44907 I do have several Degrees and have worked for DOD,DOE DARPA,/ Adv.Appl. Physics / Metallurgy /Mech.eng. /Electrical eng./ Your Both so F-----up and old school/ Rule in your views Its just comical!!! Yes we do have the necessary materials/ Electronics/ Technology on hand( off the shelf) to to produce Hydrogen Fuel/ HHO, Via Electrolytic Bond separation, on site,ie; on a vehicle,in space,under water Cheaply ,Highly efficiently, and coast effectively, and not at 4parts energy in for 1part fuel out as all the past rules applied have suggested, But at closer to 2 to 1 and less But your both so ingrained with your inside the box, turn of the 19th century thinking,as well most of the Scientific community that you will argue the point with each other beyond reason, thusly never taking or having, the time to truly generate new ideas. And might I add that there is NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, Nicola Tesla was doing exactly this in his kitchen sink in 1898 !!!! I have designed exactly that system only with a 83.5% efficiency !! I am waiting to present this for patent till the two other similar devices patents effectively expire . In the meantime I am presently working on substantial miniaturization,operational longevity, and efficiency increases.
Mar 26, 2012. 12:26 PMtmind says:
Showers of applaus!

Though this is fun the good part is the people that really know what they are doing are already on the job :)
Oct 31, 2011. 3:08 PMdaddyo44907 says:
Electrolysis is just one way of releasing H &O from water. You can rant, wave your degrees, talk your shat; but waiting for patents to expire is a poor excuse; if it were true, you would keep your mouth shut instead of trying to show off on this little science project forum. Tesla is dead; his patents, that are worth anything, are bought up, controlled. You will not be allowed to market any product that uses water as fuel; even if it is given away to the public -- free. As a fuel additive yes, but as fuel --- No.
Dec 17, 2010. 11:41 PMonebadvette says:
Young wippersnapper? I'll let the readers judge for themselves as for the validity of your claims. You've provided NO real facts when asked. NO SOLID PROOF, other than to forward your obvious agenda from your profile "thingy". Yes, I know what it is. No, I'm not going to change it. I've completed 10 strategic deterrent patrols on Trident ballistic missile submarines. Probably more technology on board than most people see in their lifetime. I pay attention to what I read. You can keep on believing in a device that is akin to perpetual motion. It doesn't work. Chemistry, as well as physics, prove it doesn't provide enough energy to make a difference at this time. Yes, the process itself works, but not on a big enough scale to do what these people claim. It's obvious from your profile what your agenda here is. 33 posts in 3 days? You must be here trying to scam people into believing the fals science that is HHO. The internet, and any physicist or chemist will tell you, that it's a scam.
The Arizona property was in jest. You're 63 and should know sarcasm when you see it. I've been here at this site, unregistered however, since inception. I'm sure you have better things to do with your time in retirement than to go back and forth on the internet about a system that you think works, and which I, as well as anyone with moderate common sense, knows doesn't. Good day.
Feb 29, 2012. 7:17 PMalanwms says:
That's the trick really - One needs to provide scientific evidence. The evidence I see here indicates (and I know this to be true) that hydrogen converters do indeed produce a gas worthy of burning, but the energy put into the system exceeds the net benefit in gas. This results in a net loss.

So while the ranter rants, I would get a word in edgewise and ask him to produce mathematical proof that this works. A dyno test with and without the system would suffice - It would cost $70, and would shut everyone up.

He aint going to do that of course, because the result would be very disappointing indeed.
Oct 18, 2011. 12:30 PMmnoel2 says:
To onebadvette & daddyo44907 I do have several Degrees and have worked for DOD,DOE DARPA,/ Adv.Appl. Physics / Metallurgy /Mech.eng. /Electrical eng./ Your Both so F-----up and old school/ Rule in your views Its just comical!!! Yes we do have the necessary materials/ Electronics/ Technology on hand( off the shelf) to to produce Hydrogen Fuel/ HHO, Via Electrolytic Bond separation, on site,ie; on a vehicle,in space,under water Cheaply ,Highly efficiently, and coast effectively, and not at 4parts energy in for 1part fuel out as all the past rules applied have suggested, But at closer to 2 to 1 and less But your both so ingrained with your inside the box, turn of the 19th century thinking,as well most of the Scientific community that you will argue the point with each other beyond reason, thusly never taking or having, the time to truly generate new ideas. And might I add that there is NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, Nicola Tesla was doing exactly this in his kitchen sink in 1898 !!!! I have designed exactly that system only with a 83.5% efficiency !! I am waiting to present this for patent till the two other similar devices patents effectively expire . In the meantime I am presently working on substantial miniaturization,operational longevity, and efficiency increases.
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Buildin' not buyin'