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| Battery and water with pencils science experiment |
One popular experiment involving batteries and water is the
electrolysis of water. In this experiment, you can use a battery to split water
into its component elements, hydrogen and oxygen.
Here's a step-by-step guide to conducting the experiment:
Materials you'll need:
1-Two pencils with erasers
2-Two alligator clips
3- A 9-volt battery
4- A small container filled with water
5- A small dish or cup
6- Salt (optional)
Procedure:
1-Fill the small container with water.
2-If you want to increase the conductivity of the water, you can add a pinch of salt and stir it until it dissolves. This step is optional.
3-Take one of the pencils and remove any paint or varnish from the tip, exposing the graphite.
4-Attach an alligator clip to the positive terminal of the 9-volt battery. Make sure it's securely attached.
5-Attach the other end of the alligator clip to the graphite tip of the pencil.
6-Take the second pencil and repeat step 3, but attach an alligator clip to the graphite tip using another wire.
7-Attach the other end of the second alligator clip to the negative terminal of the battery.
8-Place the graphite tips of the pencils into the water, making sure they don't touch each other. The tips should be submerged but not touching the bottom or sides of the container.
9-Observe the bubbles forming on each pencil tip. You should see more bubbles forming on the pencil connected to the positive terminal (anode) compared to the one connected to the negative terminal (cathode).
10-After some time, you will notice that the gas collected on the positive terminal pencil is oxygen, and the gas collected on the negative terminal pencil is hydrogen. You can perform tests to confirm the presence of these gases if you have the necessary equipment and safety precautions in place.
11-To collect the gases, you can place a small dish or cup over each pencil tip to capture the bubbles.
Safety precautions:
1-Be cautious when working with electricity and water. Make sure to keep the battery away from water to avoid any accidents.
2-If you choose to add salt to the water, use a small amount. Too much salt can increase the conductivity and result in faster gas production, which may cause the container to overflow.
3-Always supervise the experiment, especially if children are involved.
Remember, electrolysis of water can be a fun experiment, but it should be conducted with caution and adult supervision.
