Name: Electrical Energy and Flow of Charge in a Circuit
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 8 s
Description: In this video, we will visualise the flow of charge as a utility and discuss the direction of flow of charge in a simple circuit. Click on the play button fo...

Question

Describe an experiment to explain the decomposition of water in hydrogen and oxygen.

Accepted Answer

The following experiment can demonstrate the decomposition of water-

Take two discarded dry cells and clean their metal caps with a sand paper. Take out the carbon rods from the dry cells. Wrap copper wires around the metal caps of the carbon rods and join them to a battery using a switch. Take about 200 ml of acidulated water (water and dilute sulphuric acid) in a beaker. Now immerse the carbon rods (or electrodes) in acidulated water. It must be ensured that the metal caps of carbon rods remain above the level of water. Pass the current for about 5 minutes through the acidulated water.

It can be found out that the bubbles of gases are formed at the electrodes. You will also observe that hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode and oxygen gas is produced at the anode.

This indicates due to passage of electric current through the acidulated water, it decomposes into hydrogen and oxygen.

Describe an experiment to explain the decomposition of water in hydrogen and oxygen.

Important Questions on Chemical Effects of Electric Current

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !