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7 Steps
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(http://cdn.instructables.com/FCC/3ZFN/I84B8VB4/FCC3ZFNI84B8VB4.LARGE.jpg)
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Make it BIG
License:
Pencil
Luster terminals
Hot glue gun
DC Power Supply
Drill
Funnel
Balloon
(/member/Make+it+BIG/)
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Bio: I just joined Instructables and hope
you like my projects!
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Tags:
hydrogen (/tag/type-id/categorytechnology/keyw ord-hydrogen/)
generator (/tag/type-id/categorytechnology/keyw ord-generator/)
energy (/tag/type-id/category-technology/keyw ordenergy/)
gas (/tag/type-id/category-technology/keyw ord-
gas/)
oxygen (/tag/type-id/category-technology/keyw ordoxygen/)
f ire (/tag/type-id/category-technology/keyw ord-
f ire/)
explosion (/tag/type-id/categorytechnology/keyw ord-explosion/)
science (/tag/type-id/categorytechnology/keyw ord-science/)
DIY (/tag/type-id/category-technology/keyw orddiy/)
Related
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FYN/MO67/I84B8GCO/FYNMO67I84B8GCO.LARGE.jpg)
For the anode, you need an old pencil, a knife, a luster terminal, cables and a hot
glue gun.
Take the pencil and strip it with a knife, until you have the lead. Put the lead into the
luster terminal and tighten the screw. (Don't screw the terminal too tight, as that will
break the lead)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F4I/3O1P/I84B8FZ1/F4I3O1PI84B8FZ1.LARGE.jpg)
Strip the ends
of a cable and put the ends into the other side of the luster terminal.
Seal the terminal and cable with hot glue. Make sure everything is watertight. The
only part which mustn't be covered in hot glue, is the lead.
As you can see I used two pieces of lead and put them into two terminals. I
connected the two terminals to the same cable. This increases the lead surface,
and gives us a higher production quantity.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FTE/AEYQ/I84B8FK0/FTEAEYQI84B8FK0.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FHP/P4F1/I84B8JQE/FHPP4F1I84B8JQE.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FV9/QT71/I84B8JZ8/FV9QT71I84B8JZ8.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F2R/F3IT/I84B8NEO/F2RF3ITI84B8NEO.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FVG/X3AE/I84B8NFB/FVGX3AEI84B8NFB.LARGE.jpg)
For this step, you will need the lid of your container, the funnel, a drill, your anode,
your cathode and the hot glue gun.
Drill a hole into the lid of your container, the hole should be big enough, for the end
of the funnel.
After you drilled the hole, insert the end of the funnel and attach it with hot glue.
(Be careful, that the hot glue isn't too hot! If it is too hot it will melt through
the funnel and your container.)
After the glue is cold, glue the cathode on the inside of the funnel and the anode on
the outside.
Know that you attached the electrodes, drill a small hole into the lid and put the
cables through. Seal everything with hot glue.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FXR/O219/I84B8ON4/FXRO219I84B8ON4.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/F1S/RHJK/I84B8PZY/F1SRHJKI84B8PZY.LARGE.jpg)
Before hacking the power supply, please make sure it isn't plugged in!
Hacking a power supply is easy. You only have to connect the green cable with a
black cable (ground). Make sure not to solder the two, because in case of a short
circuit you have to disconnect the two cables and reconnect them in order to reset
the fuse in the power supply (It's a good idea to put in a switch).
The power supply will start running, as soon as the green cable is connected to the
ground. Now you have a DC power supply!
To use the power supply, strip a blue cable (-12V) and a yellow cable (+12V). Put
the stripped cables into a luster terminal.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FYH/01N7/I84B8RK5/FYH01N7I84B8RK5.LARGE.jpg)
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FW8/VZ6B/I84B8RYF/FW8VZ6BI84B8RYF.LARGE.jpg)
Now that everything is finished, you only need to fill the container with tap water
(you should also add a bit of salt) and place the lid on top.
Attach the cables to the power supply and turn the power supply on. (You should
see small bubbles rising from the electrodes now)
The last step is to put a balloon on top of the funnel, to catch the hydrogen gas.
Step 6: WARNINGS
NEVER attach the hydrogen generator to a normal power outlet.
!ONLY use low voltage currents!
Hydrogen is highly FLAMMABLE make sure you don't burn the gas uncontrolled or
in closed buildings. Also make sure, to keep a safe distance when burning the
gas.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FXI/LA4G/I84B92I7/FXILA4GI84B92I7.LARGE.jpg)
If you are not only interested in building a hydrogen generator, but also in the
chemical background, please read this part of the instructable.
Electrolysis:
Electrolysis is an endothermic reaction. This means, the reaction is only running if
you add energy to the system. This is achieved with our DC-Power supply. The
power supply(http://cdn.instructables.com/FIK/996T/I84B92IA/FIK996TI84B92IA.LARGE.jpg)
pulls the electrons out of the anode and pushes them to the cathode.
The electrons are from the water molecules. The power supply forces the water
molecules (HHO) to split into a positive loaded hydrogen Ion (H+) and a negative
loaded hydroxide ion (OH-).
Due to electromagnetic forces the positiv loaded hydrogen ions are pulled towards
the cathode, and the hydroxide ions are pulled towards the anode.
As the cathode offers electrons to the hydrogen ions, the hydrogen ions become
hydrogen gas (HH).
Because the anode pulls electrons, it takes the electrons of the hydroxide ions and
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FIN/CB9E/I84B92IB/FINCB9EI84B92IB.LARGE.jpg)
the hydroxide ions become hydrogen ions, as well as oxygen gas (OO). The
hydrogen ions travel to the cathode afterwards.
Why do we use pencil lead as the anode?:
We use pencil lead as anodes, because metals (except for platinum) are oxidised
due to electrochemical reactions in the container. That means if you use an iron
anode it would basically rust away while you produce hydrogen. The same thing
happens when you use copper. The copper turns into copper oxide. This slows
down your hydrogen production and gives the water a bad colour.
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FW3/0MVK/I84B92I5/FW30MVKI84B92I5.LARGE.jpg)
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juanjsaucedo (/member/juanjsaucedo/)
30 minutes ago
Reply
Instead of doing this apparatus. How about something that requires no electricity.
(/member/juanjsaucedo/)
Here is what our class was taught years back in 5th grade. Back before teachers
were told they were not allowed to teach topics that made us think.
-heat resistant gloves, goggles (preferably a face shield with goggles), long
sleeves
-bottle capable of withstanding a good amount of heat (typically a beer bottle)
-aluminum foil
-balloons
-crystal lye
-funnel (must fit into bottle)
-bucket
DO THIS OUTDOORS!! Put small pieces of aluminum foil into the bottle. Add
about a cup of water. Pre-stretch the balloons (just makes it easier to fill the
balloons). Don your safety gear; have your assistant do the same. Set bottle into
bucket for safety. The bottom might blow out if you have a bad bottle. Add about a
tablespoon or so of crystal lye into the bottle. Once you see bubbles, place a
balloon over the top of the bottle. After it is full, hand it to your assistant to tie while
you fill another. Keep doing this until the reaction stops. DO NOT REUSE
BOTTLE.
The crystal lye is the catalyst to break the water down. The oxygen bonds with the
aluminum, allowing the hydrogen to leave the bottle.
Beware of flames. This makes a bang. If you want to light a balloon. Do so with a
long fireplace type match.
juanjsaucedo
17 minutes ago
Reply
Joe_M (/member/Joe_M/)
1 hour ago
Reply
So you think you can not only make hydrogen, but you can make enough of it to
the pressure enough to blown up a balloon? I made one that was 100 times
bigger and I could fill a 33 gallon trash bag, but not blowup a balloon of any size.
Now, granted, I did not seal it and wait for pressure to build, but in your case, your
plastic lid would have bowed out while the pressure would build on the balloon,
Yes?, No?
(/member/Joe_M/)
make
akm3726 (/member/akm3726/)
Joe_M
21 minutes ago
Reply
We did this in our teens (many years ago) with Zinc chips in HCl and
to blow up a small balloon. It floated to the ceiling. Being
teenagers, we promptly took a match to it and blew it up!
(/member/akm3726/)
managed
It looks like he is inflating the balloon with this rig. You would need to hold
a bit of pressure in the container. No problem producing enough
hydrogen, though. If I remember my high school chemistry, 18g (2/3 of an
ounce) of water will produce 44 litres (10 or 11 gallons) of hydrogen at
atmospheric pressure.
Joe_M
1 hour ago
Reply
you just need to put a pump between the funnel and the balloon then you
it up you just have to keep your eye on how much gas you
make and not pump the water into the balloon.
(/member/Poppy+Ann/)
could pump
Reply
It takes really long for the balloon to fill, but the lid is more stable than the
the balloon actually pops before the the lid comes off.
(/member/Make+it+BIG/)
balloon. So
NotI1 (/member/NotI1/)
5 hours ago
Reply
I'm concerned that the insulation around the cables may crack or split. (because
they're submerged... indefinitely...)
In the event that this happens, I see a potential for a spark gap, which is very
apparently dangerous.`.
Can you comment on this?
How are your terminals holding up?
Lastly, If you had another 20$ to spend on this, what improvements would you
make to it?
Thanks!
Reply
Hi Notl1,
(/member/Make+it+BIG/)
I don't really understand your concern, why should the isolation of the
cable break? It is made of flexible plastic and won't break just because it
is in contact with water. There is also not the possibility, that there is
pressure building up between the copper and the plastic part of the cable,
as bubbles of gas would escape at the open end of the cable before
being able to make the plastic "explode".
If you use normal cables (not old and broken ones) I see no reason why
the isolation should break.
I'm sorry but I'm not a native english speaker so I don't understand what
you mean with "How are your terminals holding up?". The terminals are
normal screw terminals from the hardware store. They are attached to the
funnel with hot glue.
If you want to spend 20$, you should see if you can buy a platinum
electrode from somewhere (although I think they cost more than 20$ as
1g of platinum is ~35$) as the graphite can break after some time under
water.
You should also get a piece of copper metal as an electrode (some kind
of thin sheet metal) as it has a bigger surface. And a bigger graphite
electrode (or the platinum one).
Last but not least get a DC power supply with more than 24V DC but less
than 80V DC. (I would recommend not going above 50-60V as everything
else gets dangerous)
But you could also change much more (for example the container). I didn't
do this, as I wanted to create a simple DIY project, from material laying
around.
With best regards,
MakeitBIG
NotI1 (/member/NotI1/)
Make it BIG
40 minutes ago
Reply
NotI1
30 minutes ago
Reply
akm3726 (/member/akm3726/)
4 hours ago
Reply
That's an interesting design. The balloon should have very little oxygen in it. It
fun to tie off the finished balloon and let it fly. (Hydrogen has twice the lift
per unit volume as helium.) The amount of hydrogen produced depends on the
current, not the voltage. To get it to work faster, add a bit more salt - but be
cautious, some chlorine will collect with the oxygen. (Don't inhale it!)
(/member/akm3726/)
would be
NotI1 (/member/NotI1/)
akm3726
1 hour ago
Reply
>.< so close!
(/member/NotI1/)
Hydrogen has twice the lift (presumably because it is half the weight,
yes?)
nope.... it's not a linear equation. It's an exponential equation that loses
efficiency as the weight approaches 0.
This is because lift is proportional to the buoyancy (determined by
specific gravity relevant to the air.)
IE: if you weigh 150 lbs, and you lose 30 lbs, you have lost more weight
(and therefore gained more lift) than if you weighed 1 lb, and lost .5lbs.
balsanorm (/member/balsanorm/)
1 hour ago
Reply
sorry, but there is something wrong: Big wrote "you only need to fill the container
(you should also add a bit of salt) and place the lid on top"
(/member/balsanorm/)
with tap water
1)the distilled water (or de-mineralized w., deionized w.) has low electrical
conductivity, so the current flow is mainly due to the impurities (ions) dissolved in
it.
2)if you add some salt, the common "kitchen salt" I mean, (NaCl) you'll obtain
Hidrogen and CHLORINE, as Andysuth wrote (and chlorine is dangerous to
hinale!)
3) if you want Hidrogen and Oxigen you have to add some drops of sulphuric acid
(H2SO4).
You'll find a lot of articles on the electrolysis of sodium cloride and sulphuric acid.
sorry for my english, I'm used to read, not to write... ')
balsanorm
1 hour ago
Reply
NotI1 (/member/NotI1/)
Brooksdiy
6 hours ago
Reply
@brooksdiy
(/member/NotI1/)
*sigh*
I can walk across the street to my local dollar store and pay $1.50 for a
"POSSIBLE DANGEROUS EXPLOSIVE FIREBOMB"... I recommend
that you try lighting one of these. I'm sure you'll find the results... anticlimactic.
Gordyh (/member/Gordyh/)
NotI1
2 hours ago
That's because those balloon's are filled with Helium not Hydrogen.
(/member/Gordyh/)
NotI1 (/member/NotI1/)
Gordyh
Reply
1 hour ago
Reply
graham641 (/member/graham641/)
NotI1
5 hours ago
Reply
Yes, if you spray hairspray into a candle you have a foot long flame
(/member/graham641/)
thrower.
arvevans (/member/arvevans/)
Brooksdiy
2 hours ago
Reply
Remember that when Hydrogen collects it is lighter than air and when it
burns upward instead of laterally as is the case with
heavier combustibles. This makes it safer and easier to control than might
be the case with gasoline, propane, etc. There are many nay-sayers who
are afraid and against the use of Hydrogen, but it is actually safer than
other combustibles and as mentioned by others it can be generated by
solar power, making it the least expensive fuel that is available now and in
the future.
(/member/arvevans/)
burns it always
tincupchalice (/member/tincupchalice/)
Brooksdiy
6 hours ago
Reply
I missed the part of the ible where he said to make a dozen balloons, give
then have the skip around a bonfire...
(/member/tincupchalice/)
em to your kids
Eunix (/member/Eunix/)
Brooksdiy
9 hours ago
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Hydrogen-Gas-Clean-BurningInexpensive-Li/
Reply
studleylee (/member/studleylee/)
Brooksdiy
16 hours ago
Reply
It 's odd that "Brooksdiy" just joined and this is his only comment.Reeks of
(/member/studleylee/)
troll-ism.
TROLL-FACTOR=10
LaserByte (/member/LaserByte/)
Brooksdiy
19 hours ago
Reply
I think this project should remain on Instructables for multiple reasons, but
(/member/LaserByte/)
the main reason being that anyone who decides to make a firebomb with
this does it at their own risk and is fully responsible for their actions, and
kids don't usually want to go on the internet and find out how to create a
possibly dangerous substance. The original author of this Instructable
should not be forced to take down this project, as you will find similar
projects on other websites across the internet. I do, however, understand
your concerns.
Brooksdiy
21 hours ago
Reply
rgaines (/member/rgaines/)
Make it BIG
20 hours ago
Reply
(/member/rgaines/)
unstable
Hydrogen is a renewable fuel we can use, but of all the fuels it's the least
powerful. There would be no interest in it, if it weren't for the fact is so
plentiful and when it's spent it goes back into water, which then can be
separated again and again. Dispel the images of the Hindenburg. Most of
that wasn't hydrogen, but the gun power like substance used in the
finishing of the outside. The Zeppelins were very hard to bring down in
WW1. The Hindenburg was sabotaged. Hydrogen is around you and IN
you. Even plants us electrolysis in the process of photosynthesis making
sugar from carbon dioxide and water!
The biggest danger in electrolysis is electric shock, which is why this
experiment using 12 Volts though you could be by with 38VDC (must by
DC as AC would produce both gasses at each terminal).
sspruill1 (/member/sspruill1/)
5 hours ago
Reply
Yes - this is potentially dangerous, but so are many of the Instructable posts. That
reason to take this down.
(/member/sspruill1/)
is not good
I remember doing a very similar experiment in the 9th grade (back in the early
70s). We used only a 9v square flashlight battery as the power and we only
captured enough H+ and O2 to fill a couple of test tubes. The final part of the
experiment was to put a match to each test tube to determine which held H+ and
which held O2. The O2 brightened the flame and the H+ "exploded" with a POP.
I am not sure I would recommend capturing the H+ in a balloon, simply because
the balloon is too easily punctured. I would want something more substantial to
reduce risk of accidentally releasing H+; perhaps a heavier material like a bicycle
innertube? We all know H+ is highly reactive, so a small amount released into the
air will quickly find some oxygen to bind to, resulting in water vapor.
WVvan (/member/WVvan/)
sspruill1
2 hours ago
Reply
(/member/WVvan/)
hydrogen in a
sspruill1
5 hours ago
Reply
yesterday
Reply
kcraske (/member/kcraske/)
Does the anode give off bubbles of oxygen? This could be collected by a funnel in
manner. Good ible.
the same
(/member/kcraske/)
andysuth (/member/andysuth/)
kcraske
4 hours ago
Reply
If you have a saline impurity to the water, the most likely product would not
with the Hydrogen and a spark then that's a
nice strong acid, HCl........
(/member/andysuth/)
be O2, but Cl2. recombine
kcraske yesterday
Reply
Yes, the anode gives you bubbles of oxygen. And yes if you add a second
(/member/Make+it+BIG/)
funnel you can collect them. But you only get half as much oxygen as
hydrogen.
Wazzupdoc (/member/Wazzupdoc/)
5 hours ago
Reply
Wow. There are a lot of chemistry-ignorant worry-warts here!! This is a nice 'ible
electrochemical reaction. You can also use a solar cell and get
hydrogen and oxygen from the Sun. Keep up the good work!
(/member/Wazzupdoc/)
about a basic
graham641 (/member/graham641/)
5 hours ago
Reply
The lead can be found in a drafting supply shop. They are the same diameter as
pencil lead but save the time to remove the wood. Concerning the
danger: If a child is sophisticated enough to set up the experiment then I would
guess that he knows the flammability. For younger kids...well, I do not let them
play with gasoline either.
(/member/graham641/)
a standard
gcarmich (/member/gcarmich/)
7 hours ago
Reply
How long does it take to fill the balloon? Minutes? Hours? Days?
(/member/gcarmich/)
simon_le_robot (/member/simon_le_robot/)
gcarmich
6 hours ago
Reply
simon_le_robot
6 hours ago
Reply
(/member/simon_le_robot/)
(/member/Make+it+BIG/)
Depends on your setup (Size of the electrodes, voltage, amount of salt in the
water, size of the balloon). I only used a small amount of salt and currently
power the setup with 50V DC (which is the maximum you should go, as higher
voltages get dangerous), moreover my electrodes are quite small. So my
setup takes ~1-2days to fill a normal balloon. But as already said, if you add
more salt and use bigger electrodes it is possible to produce more gas.
domosergio (/member/domosergio/)
6 hours ago
Reply
8 hours ago
Reply
kilroy_50 (/member/kilroy_50/)
I would just like to mention that the experimenter must be very careful not to allow
gas from the anode (the terminal connected to the positive voltage) to
mix with the hydrogen from the cathode (negative). That would create an
extremely flammable mixture (also known as "Brown's Gas") and it could cause
serious personal injury.
(/member/kilroy_50/)
the evolved
LaserByte (/member/LaserByte/)
19 hours ago
Reply
LaserByte
9 hours ago
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