DETERMINING THE RATIO OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN IN A MOLECULE OF WATER

Aim

To determine the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in a molecule of water. Hypothesis : The volume of hydrogen gas released is two times more than the volume oxygen gas released. Variable Manipulated : Dilute sulphuric acid and distilled water. Responding : Volume of gas collected Fixed : Time taken

Materials

: Distilled water, dilute sulphuric acid, wooden splinters Apparatus : Plastic container, rubber stopper, carbon electrodes, connecting wires with crocodile clips, ammeter, rheostat, switch, 10cm measuring cylinders, stopwatch, Bunsen burner, direct current power supply.

Procedure : 1) The apparatus is set up as shown in Diagram 1. 2) The switch is turned on. Bubbles are released at each electrode. 3) The volumes of gases released after 5 minutes are recorded. 4) Both measuring cylinders are filled with gas, they are removed from the set up for the following tests. a) a glowing splinter is inserted into measuring cylinder A. b) a lighted splinter is inserted into measuring cylinder B.

Observations :

Measuring cylinder A

Volume of gas after 5 minutes (cm)

Test of gas

The gas relights the glowing splinter The gas explodes with a pop sound

Discussion : 1) The gas collected in A relights the glowing splinter. This shows the presence of oxygen. Oxygen gas is released at the positive electrode during electrolysis. 2) The gas collected in B explodes with a pop sound. This shows the presence of hydrogen. Hydrogen gas is released at the negative electrode. 3) The ratio of the volume of the oxygen gas to the hydrogen gas is 1:2. The water is made up of one volume of oxygen and two volumes of hydrogen. 4) The chemical formula for water is H2O.

Conclusion : A molecule of water is made up of one atom of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen.