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Sun 19 Feb, 2006 08:01 am
Hi, How many chemical bonds are they in water?, and is it easy to
separate a hydrogen atoms from a hydroxide?
I understand that hydrogen atom is very flammable. Guess that is right.
Thanks
Two chemical bonds-
No it is not particularly easy to break these chemical binds.
And hydrogen (gas) in air is beyond flammable, it's explosive.
Rap
Rap's got it right, though easy is a relative term. You can separate the O's from the H's by running a decent electric current through water. My high school chemistry teacher did it with standard 110v. I don't recommend you try this. 4% H2 in air is explosive. Pure O2 will cause metal to burn like wood.
Electrolysis requires direct current. Hydrogen collects at the anode and oxygen at the cathode.
It is a relatively common laboratory process, but it is not an energy efficient method for hydrogen production.
Other industrial processes for hydrogen production are reforming hydrocarbons (usually methane) and radiolysis of water in a concentrated gamma flux (pebble bed nuclear reactor).
Because of its potential for explosion industrial storage of hydrogen gas is difficult and large quantity is usually avoided
Note a charging lead acid battery makes hydrogen gas---that is one of the reasons you make sure there is good ventilation when charging a battery.
Rap