Hydrogen; The fuel neededyesterday,heretoday

Isaac Reichman, Timothy Wills, Buddilla Ranasinghe

Sustainability. The word itself alludes not only to the nature of the topic but the motive. For some, the definition remains dubious, but sustainability is one of the biggest issues in society today. To be sustainable is the quality of a renewable system that can support itself indefinitely. Since the dawn of mankind, humanity has worked to create better and more efficient ways of completing tasks and accomplishing objectives. They started localized in groups with tools of minimal technological advancement, stone. They then advanced into the Bronze Age and finally, the Iron Age. These are the traditional three stages of humanities development but there is a fourth, current stage, the industrial and technological age. Whilst the Stone, Bronze and the Iron Age all required the burning of wood, charcoal or coal in order to create the tools needed to meet the demands of the time, this current, industrious age brings about several issues concerning this quality of sustainability. (Rickard et al. 2006) Society of today functions on one key concept in order to function successfully, consumable energy. Whether it is the gas that is put into cars, the electricity that is used to power houses or the combination of both that runs factories, energy is the most important thing in the form of power. The energy that runs cars and powers microwaves should not be confused with the energy that is expended running down the street or bouncing a ball. Whilst every form of energy is energy, it is mechanical and electrical energy that dictates modern life as it is known. ( Oxladeet al. 2007)
Table of the waysto convertdifferentformsof energyinto one another

In order to understand this, an understanding of energy is required. Energy is a property of a physical system that cannot be observed directly but you can derive it from its state. Energy is also a conserved property meaning that there is only a set amount of energy in the universe and that it can never be created nor destroyed, whether it is in a closed system or not, only transferred from one form to another. A simpler, more common way of understanding energy is the ability of a system to do work. Work is defined in physics as force multiplied by distance or W = F * d. The SI unit of energy is the joule. Energy has no objective form but it does take a manner of identified ones according to the system it is a property of. The current understanding of the physical sciences presents us with 12 forms that energy takes. These include: Mechanical energy; Kinetic energy; Potential energy; Chemical energy; Electric energy; Radiant energy; Magnetic energy; Ionization energy; Elastic energy; Gravitational energy; Thermal energy; Nuclear energy. As aforementioned, not only can energy change from one form to another, but humanities existence depends on it. (Rickard et al. 2006) The machines that are used all the time need specific forms of energy to function properly. In order for a bulb to light up, it needs to take electrical energy and convert it into radiant and thermal energy. In order for a car to work it needs to convert gasoline into mechanical energy. The issue arises with these seemingly simple things that are actually far more

complex and taken for granted. Both the electricity that powers electronics and the fuel that powers transportation and industry are currently produced by means that are for all intents and purposes, not sustainable. Gasoline is produced from natural petroleum that is pumped from deep underground reserves. These reserves are not, however, infinite and will run out. This fact is not helped by the continuous increase in cars as well as factories that require natural gases to function and produce at the current rate of demand. Not only is this fuel depleting rapidly but it releases emissions into the atmosphere. These emissions produced by cars and factories are the main source of greenhouse gases right now. A similar problem arises with the production of electricity. The way that electricity is produced on the industrial scale is with generators. These machines convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The way with which they do this is through a phenomenon known as electromagnetic induction. In simplest terms this involves take advantage of the intimate relationship between electricity and magnetism. When a current is passed through a piece of copper, it produces a magnetic field. This same concept works in reverse, when a piece of copper is exposed to a magnetic field it generates a current, then when the magnetic field disappears it generates another, alternate current.

consists of permanent magnets that rotate within the other part that consists of copper wire wrapped around a ferromagnetic core, typically iron. The rotating inside part is called the rotor; the outside part that is stationary and will feed the electricity off is called the stator. The rotor can be turned, creating electric energy from mechanical energy. There are numerous ways to turn the rotor; in a project style alternator, a person could do it by hand (Dugdale 1993). However, when electricity needs to be produced on a massive scale this is done by burning coal, and having the burning coal boil water. The steam compresses itself, and then having the compressed steam turn turbines which turn the rotor at incredibly high speeds, generating massive amounts of electrical energy from mechanical energy. A/C or alternating current is the form of current generated and this is this form of electric energy is easily transferred over large distances with minimal loss to heat in the resistance of the wire. Needless to say, these massive amounts of electricity are beyond dangerous. So in order to transfer these across the country and to the homes to be used, an invention is used known as a transformer. The transformer uses induction to create a magnetic field from a primary coil of copper which then generates a current in a secondary of copper. The voltage and current generated in secondary coil is proportional to the amount of wire in the coil and the amount of iron according to the transformer induction laws (Faraday1831) Electricity is a fundamental part of modern society, and it is generate it successfully in large amounts. But the fact is that in the process of generating electricity, an innumerable amount of damage is done to the environment. In order to generate electricity, a fuel source is needed, a so called energy carrier. The type of fuel used to power these generators varies but usually consist of cheap materials like fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The burning of these natural gases release tons and tons of emissions into the atmosphere that produce both short term and long term effects. The main ill influence that these gases have on the environment is adding to greenhouse gases and increasing the effects of global warming. Industry, electric generation and fuel burnt in cars are almost all of the worlds greenhouse gases. (Sources 2011)

Illustration of the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction (ElectromagneticInduction.2013 ) This quality of copper is what the entire technological age depends on. So in order to produce a continuous, steady source of electricity, the copper must be exposed to an irregular magnetic field. This can be done with a machine known as an alternator. The alternator is able used to transfer mechanical energy into electrical energy in the form of an alternating current. The way alternators work is by taking advantage of induction, creating motion between a magnetic field and a conductor. This is conventionally done by having two functioning parts, one that

The thick atmosphereof Venus, the thin atmosphereof Mars, and the perfectatmosphereof Earth(V,E,M.1995)

Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Economic Sector in 2011 (Sources 2011)

by

The atmosphere consists of a mixture of various gases. Oxygen and nitrogen make up the majority constituting 21% and 78% respectively along with other trace gases. However, it is these trace gases that contain the greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide, CO, is the main greenhouse gas and comprises about 0.0036%.( Oxladeet al. 2007). Along with the other greenhouse gases, CO creates a blanket that traps heat inside the atmosphere. This heat trapping effect is similar to how a greenhouse functions, keeping heat inside the house to help plants grow quicker, hence the name greenhouse effect. This greenhouse effect is a natural cause and effect process that actually makes it possible for earth to sustain life. The sun emits electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength that hits the earth and turns into long wavelength radiation. Without the greenhouse gases, all of this radiant energy would escape the atmosphere and Earth would be too cold to support life. A good example of this is the planet Mars. Its atmosphere is too thin to keep heat in and its surface averages -100 Celsius. However if there are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, too much heat is kept in and the planet is too hot to support life. This situation is prevalent on the hottest planet in the solar system, Venus, whose surface is around 500 Celsius. To give an idea of how hot this is, both zinc and lead would be liquid on Venus and sulphur would be a gas. Earths atmosphere is perfect to sustain life, unless the current trend continues. The amount of CO that is produced biochemically is what creates this natural blanket. The majority of this natural CO is recycled by plants during photosynthesis and this is what protected the earth from creating too thick a layer. When humans started mass generating electricity, the amount of CO in the atmosphere rose sharply past the amount that plants could process. This coupled with the sharp rise in the population of both human and livestock population by the billions as well as the human caused destruction of square kilometres of forest is driving the levels of CO well past a comfortable range. If this trend continues, Earth wont be able to sustain life any further. (Cheetham 2005)

Ethically, there is no way to reduce the current population of the human race. This leaves one other alternative, the reduction of CO emissions. There are two ways to reduce CO, one is finding a way to take the current CO and processing it back into carbon and oxygen. This is an effective method to shrink CO in the long run. The other way is to prevent and lessen the production of CO immediately. This is done by replacing the current conventional means of generating electricity and burning fuel in cars. Several ways have been researched as alternative fuels. Common sources of renewable energy are wind, solar, geothermal and hydro power. The really important thing about these sources of energy is zero-emission. Nuclear energy is also a really significant resource to look into; however, it does have the setback of requiring energy to start and the nuclear waste that is produced, not to mention the incredible risk that a nuclear reactor poses if it fails. So these sources of renewable energy are safe, effective and have zero emissions. Despite all of these sources of renewable energy, one form has been called the energy of the future, hydrogen. This is because hydrogen can be used to generate and transport electricity. The potential future using hydrogen has been coined the hydrogen economy insert reference-. Creating and using hydrogen as an energy carrier is a zero emission and efficient source of renewable energy. There are multiple ways of generating hydrogen. One of these ways is by steam methane reformation which reduces CH to carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the following chemical equation, CH4 + H2O CO + 3 H2, this reaction is reversible but the obvious side effect of generating hydrogen this way is the side product of carbon monoxide, or if the monoxide is further reacted, carbon dioxide. Creating hydrogen this way is counterproductive so the method of creating hydrogen without effecting the environment would be through electrolysis. (Pauling1955) Electrolysis occurs when a current is passed through a conducting fluid through two electrodes. This current divides the solution into its respective ions. For example, when a current is passed through molten sodium chloride, NaCl, both sodium and chlorine are produced from their ions. This works because NaCl is comprised of positive sodium ions and negative chlorine ions which, when molten float around freely, conducting. When a current is passed from the cathode-the positive electrode- the sodium ions take

the electrons and become whole sodium atoms again, collecting at the cathode. On the negative electrodethe anode-the chlorine ions give off one of their electrons to become half chlorine molecule, forming at the anode. Electrolysis of water involves the same concept but different results. Water, in its pure form, does not conduct electricity to any substantial amount. However, when a salt is dissolved in the solution, the ions that make up the salt dissociate and make the water a good conductor. What happens when a current is passed through this salt solution is that 4H2O molecules combine with 4 electrons at the cathode to become 2 H2 + 4OH-. Then at the anode, the hydroxide ions give up their electron to evolve oxygen. So when the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are given enough energy, this allows them to be split back into their pure forms. (Pauling1955, Oxladeet al. 2007) Once the hydrogen has been obtained in is pure form, many things can be done with it. In its pure form hydrogen acts as an energy carrier which can be used to create electricity in fuel cells, burnt in a combustion engine or even used as a fuel for a torch in industry . (Electrolysis,unknown) This project will act to explore what has been called the holy grail of renewable energy (Holy grail 2013). The production of hydrogen is one that will dictate the sustainable future of the human race along with a much more efficient way of energy production. After this experiment, it is hoped to have a better understanding of not only alternating currents and induction, but more importantly, the relativity of the input voltage/current to the amount of hydrogen generated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not it is possible to electrolyse water in an isolated environment, away from the direct source of current. It is predicted however, that the current generated in the second source of copper will be in proportion to the current in the first source that generates magnetic flux in a core. The follow equation accounts for this (Faraday 1831):

Iron core E piece rec!c"ed from transformer inside micro#a$e

%rimar! copper so"enoid&coi" from micro#a$e transformer Secondar! copper so"enoid&coi" from micro#a$e transformer %o#er source- $ariab"e A&C

'uct tape&epo(! Nai" po"is) Sand paper A""igator c"ips ( *

So"der So"dering iron

Apparatus: Sodium bicarbonate NaCO3

Nic+e" e"ectrodes ( *

,as -ar& p"astic bott"e&test tubes ( * stand Waterproof, non-conducting container .#o sma"" f"at pieces of #ood to )o"d container off surface

 /atc)es Optiona": /agnet #ire *0 gauge or )ig)er, insu"ated

*2 %ut primar! copper coi" so"enoid from micro#a$e transformer onto E section

32 .a+e sandpaper and strip appro(imate"! one cm of insu"ating from eac) end of t)e secondar! coi" #ire2

32 So"der one of t)e stripped #ires on t)e free so"enoid to e"ectrode ensuring #)o"e end of stripped #ire is in contact #it) e"ectrode2 4epeat on ot)er end of t)e #ire #it) ot)er e"ectrode2 52 6sing nai" po"is) or anot)er

#aterproofing agent, g"oss entiret! o$er so"dered, e(posed parts of #ires2 /et)od: 12 .a+e iron core E section from micro#a$e transformer 72 %"ace so"enoid #it) e"ectrodes in container at t)e bottom2

82 9i"" container #it) #ater so to co$er top of e"ectrode2 :2 'isso"$e sodium bicarbonate in #ater2 ;2 9i"" gas -ars&containers&test tubes #it) #ater2 102 'isso"$e sodium bicarbonate in containers #ater2 112 %"ace in #ater o$er e"ectrodes +eeping #ater inside2 1*2 /easure amount of air at t)e top of t)e containers2 132 .a+e e"ectromagnet and p"ace on benc) top2

*32 .a+e containers out of #ater +eeping uprig)t2 *32 <ig)t matc) and test eac) container for a popping sound2 .)at container is t)e )!drogen, mar+ t)at e"ectrode =2 *52 4epeat 1*-13 and 1;-** increasing $o"tage one setting e$er! time2 *72 4epeat *3 unti" e$er! $o"tage setting )as been tested2 *82 .urn off po#er source2 *:2 6np"ug po#er source2 *;2 4emo$e a""igator c"ips from po#er source and e"ectromagnet2 302 .a+e container off e"ectromagnet 312 4emo$e containers from #ater2 3*2 'ispose of #ater2 332 'r! so"enoid and e"ectrodes2 332 C"ean up2

132 6sing a""igator c"ips connect

e"ectromagnet to unp"ugged, s#itc)ed off po#er source

152 %"ace container on top of e"ectromagnet

352 %ac+ up2

172 %"ug in po#er source2 182 .urn a&c setting do#n to "o#est $o"tage and "o#est current setting2 1:2 .urn on2 1;2 <et s!stem run for ten minutes2 *02 .urn off2 *12 /easure disp"aced #ater in bot) containers2 **2 .a+e "arge container off e"ectromagnet

.#o fina" e(periments #ere conducted, t)e first, using a"" of t)e origina""! en$isioned apparatus, and a second one to demonstrate t)e princip"es of #ater e"ectro"!sis2 .)e first e(periment, )o#e$er successfu" it ma! )a$e been, did not produce an! meaningfu" $isua" resu"ts b! #a! of e"ectromagnetic induction2 .)e second, b! #a! of direct, batter! supp"ied current, >uic+"! and $isib"! sp"it t)e #ater into its components2

s!stem and apparatus not #or+ing, t)e e(periment produced poor, nig) non-e(istent resu"ts2 .)us, an addition e(perimenta" setup #as needed for a proof of concept t)at cou"d be e(panded upon t)roug) farada!s "a#s of e"ectro"!sis2 .)e fo""o#ing is t)e met)od used for t)e second, proof of concept, e(periment: 12 .a+e g"ass container a fi"" #it) 100m" deioni@ed #ater *2 Stir in t#o tab"espoons or 30g of sodium bicarbonate or Na=CO3 32 Wait for #ater to sett"e from opa>ue to transparent 32 .a+e nic+e" e"ectrode and attac) end of an a""igator c"ip to one end 52 4epeat #it) ot)er e"ectrode and c"ip 72 %"ace e"ectrodes in container so t)e! don t touc) eac) ot)er 82 Connect ot)er ends of a""igator c"ips to t)e si( $o"t batter! :2 Obser$e e"ectrodes ;2 'ocument obser$ations 102 4emo$e c"ips from batter! 112 4emo$e e"ectrodes from #ater 1*2 'r! e"ectrodes 132 'ispose of so"ution do#n a sin+ 132 C"ean and dr! container 152 %ut a#a! apparatus 'ue to t)e unforeseen circumstances t)at resu"ted in t)e origina" e(periment setup becoming meaning"ess for t)e ac>uisition of resu"ts, a ne# met)od of ca"cu"ating t)e >uantit! of )!drogen produced #as emp"o!ed2 A met)od deri$ed from /ic)ae" 9arada! s "a#s of e"ectro"!sis #)ic) states t)at t)e ratio of a substance produced is proportiona" to t)e current passed t)roug) and t)e duration for #)ic) t)e e"ectro"!sis is conducted2

Origina" e(periment #)ic) contained a design f"a# causing t)e need for a second simp"er e(periment

9ina" e(periment demonstration apparatus: * nic+e" e"ectrodes ,"ass container ? 150 mi""i"iters 7 $o"t batter! rated at *5mA * a""igator c"ips Sodium bicarbonate - Na=CO3 .ab"espoon 'eioni@ed #ater /easuring -ug

Second e(periment conducted to i""ustrate princip"es of e"ectro"!sis containing t)e abo$e apparatus

W)ere: / is mass of e"ement formed at e"ectrode A is tota" c)arge in cou"ombs of e"ectro"!sis or duration times amps 9 is farada!s constant / is mo"ar mass B is $a"ence number of substance In t)e case of )!drogen production, #)ic) are t)e on"! resu"ts rea""! cared about, /&@ is e>ui$a"ent to 12 .)is means t)at t)e mass of )!drogen "iberated at t)e anode is e>ua" to t)e c)arge t)at

9or t)e origina" e(periment, t)e aforementioned met)od #as fo""o#ed in an attempt to gat)er meaningfu" resu"ts2 =o#e$er, due to unforeseen circumstances caused b! design f"a#s in t)e

f"o#s t)roug) t)e #ater di$ided b! farada!s constant2 .)e fo""o#ing resu"ts are ca"cu"ations deri$ed from /ic)ae" 9arada! s "a#s of e"ectro"!sis of )o# man! grams of )!drogen are produced from a 7$ batter! at *5mA:
time (s) 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000 mass (g) 7.77202E-05 0.00015544 0.000233161 0.000310881 0.000388601 0.000466321 0.000544041 0.000621762 0.000699482 0.000777202

.)e products of t)is reaction are re"ati$e"! sma"" and t)at is due to t)e fact t)at in order for a )!drogen mo"ecu"e to be produced, it needs to )a$e t#o e"ectrons for eac) )!drogen atom2 =ence, for eac) mo"e of )!drogen ions, anot)er mo"e of e"ectrons is needed to produce )!drogen2 A mo"e of e"ectrons carries appro(imate"! ;275C10D3 cou"ombs of c)arge2 So in order to produce one mo"e of )!drogen, a po#er source must produce appro(imate"! ;275C10D3 cou"ombs of c)arge2 .)e 7$ batter! supp"ies *5mA of current or 020*5 cou"ombs per second2 .)is means t)at in order to produce one gram of )!drogen from t)e 7$ batter #ou"d ta+e 108* )ours or more t)an 33 da!s #)ic) is o$er 7 #ee+s2 So from t)is batter!, t)e prospects of ma+ing a noticeab"e, "et a"one considerab"e amount of )!drogen are neg"igib"e2 .)e e(periment itse"f did itse"f )a$e some interesting >ua"ities2 .)e t#o e"ectrodes composed of nic+e" seemed to #it)stand t)e corrosi$e effects of t)e #ater2 .)e t#o e"ectrodes, anode and t)e cat)ode, eac) produced gases, )o#e$er t)e anode produced muc) more gas2 .)e anode #as #)ere t)e )!drogen #as coming from and t)e cat)ode #as #)ere t)e o(!gen e$o"$ed2 After a fe# minutes connected, t)e batter! began to become )ot2 Ee"o# is a grap) of predictions based on a po#er source supp"! of *30$, 10A Ft)e usua" amperage of a po#er out"etG #)en used to e"ectro"!@e #ater:

So, it s an ob$ious "inear re"ations)ip and as t)e time increases, so does t)e amount of c)arge2 As t)e c)arge increases, more ions become atoms2 .)ese sorts of resu"ts coming from t)is sma"" amount of current "ead to a conc"usion t)at in order to increase t)e production of )!drogen, more current is needed2 .)is idea #as t)e initia" )!pot)esis posed at t)e beginning of t)is pro-ect2 .)e aim of t)is pro-ect #as to ta+e an initia" input of po#er #)ic) )ad bot) current and $o"tage and to raise eac) of t)em ? resu"ting in t)e ot)ers decrease ? and see #)et)er it #as t)e current or t)e $o"tage t)at determined t)e amount of produced )!drogen2 =o#e$er, in accordance #it) t)is aim, t)e )!pot)esis #as t)at #it)in t)is c"osed s!stem, "arge amounts of current or $o"tage cou"d be generated as a resu"t of e"ectromagnetic induction, generated b! a"ternating current2 In accomp"is)ing our aim of disco$ering, t)roug) bot) t)eor! and e$idence, t)at it #as indeed t)e current t)at dictated t)e speed of production, #e gain support of t)e )!pot)esis2 .)roug) t)e princip"e of e"ectromagnetic induction, it is possib"e to ta+e an a"ternating po#er source, and drastica""! increase t)e current in proportion to t)e $o"tage2 A generic Austra"ian po#er point supp"ies *30$ #it) a current of 10A2 If t)is po#er #as put t)roug) a step-do#n transformer, t)e $o"tage cou"d be reduced to about *H and t)e current to o$er :00A #)ic) is actua""! re"ati$e"! safe for an! "i$ing organism not made of meta"2 .)us t)e )!pot)esis t)at an e"ectric current cou"d be induced in proportion to an origina" current is not supported b! e$idence and no conc"usion can be dra#n #it)out furt)er e(perimentation #it) more re"iab"e apparatus2 =o#e$er, it #as re"iab"e pro$en t)at current is responsib"e for t)e produced )!drogen, t)roug) 9arada! s "a#s2 .)is cou"d be supported b! e$idence from tests conducted #it) batteries but it #ou"d be too difficu"t to correct"! measure t)e amounts of )!drogen produced and dra# an accurate conc"usion2 9urt)ermore if an e(periment #as to be conducted #it) )ig)er

currents, it #ou"d become too dangerous to conduct e(periments due as potentia""! )ig) $o"tages #ou"d be in$o"$ed2 .)e scientific princip"es be)ind t)is e(periment aforementioned are e"ectromagnetic induction and basic ionic t)eor! as #e"" as e"ectro"!sis2 W)i"st t)e resu"ts of t)e origina" e(periment #ere inconc"usi$e, it #as to be based on e"ectromagnetic induction2 .)e s!stem contained t#o copper coi"s and one #as to )a$e an a"ternating current put t)roug) it but t)e A&C generator #as bro+en2 If t)e generator #as not bro+en )o#e$er, t)e induced current ma! )a$e caused t)e #ater in t)e container to be sp"it2 9or bot) e(periments, #)en t)e #ater #as to actua""! be sp"it, it is e(p"ained b! ionic t)eor! and b! 9arada! s "a#s of e"ectro"!sis2 Ionic t)eor! states t)at #)en an ionic compound disso"$es in #ater, t)e compound dissociates into its ions2 .)ese ions )a$e eit)er a positi$e or a negati$e c)arge2 Wit)in #ater, #)en t)ere is "itt"e to no ions of a compound disso"$ed, t)e #ater disassociates itse"f into )!drogen and )!dro(ide ions2 So t)ere are positi$e"! c)arged )!drogen ions f"oating around amongst negati$e"! c)arged )!dro(ide ions2 E"ectro"!sis e(p"ains t)at #)en t)ese ions are gi$en bac+ t)e appropriate amount of e"ectrons, t)e! become atoms again and form mo"ecu"es of t)e e"ement2 In t)e case of )!drogen, #)en t#o ions of )!drogen are gi$en an e"ectron eac), t)e! become )!drogen again in t)e form =*2 Since )!drogen ions are essentia""! protons and are positi$e"! c)arged, t)is a"" )appens at t)e negati$e e"ectrode ? t)e anode ? #)ere t)e! are attracted2 A current, Icarr!ingJ e"ectrons, f"o#s from t)e anode and t)is is #)ere t)e )!drogen ions, #)ic) )a$e been attracted recei$es e"ectrons and reforms into )!drogen gas2 W)i"st )!drogen gas is produced in a 1-1 ratio #it) o(!gen, t)ere is t#ice as man! )!drogen as o(!gen in an! situation #)ere #ater is concerned and t)at e(p"ains )o# t)ere is more gas being produced at t)e anode, as t)ere is more )!drogen ions a$ai"ab"e to recei$e e"ectrons2 9urt)ermore, e"ectro"!sis e(p"ains )o# it is current t)at dictates t)e amount of )!drogen produced and t)at in order to produce a gi$en >uantit! of )!drogen, an e>ui$a"ent amount of e"ectrons is re>uired2 9rom t)e resu"ts, it is c"ear t)at a "arge current is re>uired in order to con$ert #ater to )!drogen as #e"" as an e"ectro"!te in order for t)e s!stem to be more efficient2 It #ou"d defeat t)e purpose of "oo+ing for a c"ean fue" if t)e production of it

#as not sustainab"e2 So in order for t)e entire process to be efficient, t)e po#er t)at sp"its t)e #ater must come from an efficient source2 So"ar po#er is an e(ce""ent source of massi$e amounts of sustainab"e energ! t)at cou"d direct"! be used to sp"it #ater into its components2 If t)ese sorts of s!stems #ere bui"t on massi$e sca"es at sea, t)en t)ese po#er p"ants #ou"d be "o# maintenance and rene#ab"e sources of )!drogen fue" #)ere t)ere is p"ent! of so"ar radiation2 Wit)in t)e e(periment t)ere #ere t#o s!stematic errors t)at #ere difficu"t to identif!, "et a"one fi(2 .)e first #as an error #it) a mu"ti-meter2 .)e mu"ti-meter #as used to ascertain t)e amperage distributed b! t)e batter! but it ga$e a resu"t different to #)at #as e(pected2 After finding an estimation of #)at t)e amperage s)ou"d be for a batter! t)roug) a batter! compan! s #ebsite (Eveready 2012), t)e mu"ti-meter #as opened up to find t)at t)e dia" )ad been ca"ibrated improper"!, causing incorrect measurements2 .)e ot)er s!stematic error in t)e e(periment #as t)e container used to measure t)e amount of #ater to be e"ectro"!@ed2 It a p"astic measuring -ug t)at #as s"ig)t"! miss)apen from )eat used to c"ean it o$er its "ifetime2 .)is #ou"d )a$e resu"ted in a s"ig)t e(cess of t)e amount of #ater e"ectro"!@ed2 =o#e$er t)e e(tra #ater #as too neg"igib"e to become an uncertaint!2 .)ere #ere a"so t#o random errors #it)in t)e e(periment t)at #ou"d )a$e created inaccuracies2 W)en measuring t)e e(act current of t)e batter! using t)e mu"timetre se$era" times it #as a"#a!s s"ig)t"! different2 In order to fi( t)is, t)e current #as measured 10 times and a$eraged to obtain a more precise resu"t2 Anot)er random error t)at #ou"d )a$e arisen in t)e origina" e(periment )ad t)e a"ternator #or+ed #ou"d be t)at t)e induced current in t)e secondar! coi" #ou"d )a$e f"uctuated depending on #)ere t)e container #as positioned abo$e t)e primar! coi"2 .)is #ou"d dictate t)e amount of magnetic f"u( de"i$ered to t)e secondar!2 .)is cou"d )a$e been minimi@ed b! repeating t)e e(periment and a$eraging t)e resu"ts2 .)ere are ob$ious #a!s to impro$e t)e initia", primar! e(periment2 .)e number one #a! #as to actua""! obtain a #or+ing A&C po#er source so t)at t)e e(periment cou"d actua""! ta+e p"ace2 .)e second #ou"d be to ensure t)at a"" t)e #ires on t)e secondar! #ere #aterproof as to pre$ent a s)ort and ma(imi@e efficienc!2 .)e t)ird is to

)a$e tubing t)at sits o$er eac) end of t)e secondar! t)at goes out into containers so t)at t)e gas can be co""ected instead of -ust measured as #e"" as impro$ing measurement $ast"!2 .o impro$e !ie"d as #e"" as t)e speed of t)e e(periment, connected insu"ating #ire to t)e primar! termina"s and insu"ating t)ose termina"s #)i"st on t)e ot)er end a po#er p"ug #as connected #ou"d enab"e t)e s!stem to safe"! p"ugged direct"! into a po#er point2 .)e po#er point pro$ides a source of A&C #it)out t)e need for a po#er pac+ as #e"" as being a )ig)er $o"tage and amperage t)at #ou"d be con$erted to an e$en )ig)er current #it) a safer $o"tage2 .)e "ast but fina" impro$ement to t)e s!stem #ou"d be to )a$e a t)ic+er gauge #ire in t)e secondar! to increase t)e current in proportion t)e $o"tage2 =!drogen, t)is temperamenta", reacti$e e"ement is t)e most abundant e"ement in t)e uni$erse2 On eart) it is too reacti$e to be found in its pure form and instead is most common"! found as #ater2 Eut t)roug) e"ectro"!sis, #e can obtain t)is important e"ement2 It is current, not $o"tage t)at dictates t)e amount of )!drogen gas produced t)roug) e"ectro"!sis2 Current is cou"ombs per second and it is t)ese c)arged partic"es t)at is needed in order for )!drogen ions to form atoms again2 .)erefore, t)e most efficient production of )!drogen is t)roug) a )ig) current2 .)is sort of )ig) current can be generated t)roug) an inducti$e s!stem #)ic) recei$es an a"ternating current so t)at t)e magnetic f"u( is constant2 .)e aim of t)is pro-ect #as to e(p"ore induction and its "imitations as #e"" as )!drogen production2 'ue to "imitations of apparatus t)ese aims cou"d not be e(p"ored fu""!2 .)e e"ectro"!sis of #ater #as e(p"ored and t)e necessar! conditions2 .)is fue" is sustainab"e and can be produced $ia sustainab"e means, #)ic) means t)at it is somet)ing t)at go$ernments need to "oo+ into in order to secure a future #)ere peop"e can continue to "i$e comfortab"e2 I #ou"d "i+e to t)an+ m! parents for assisting me in not on"! procuring t)e apparatus, but encouraging me to do t)e best #or+ I cou"d2 I #ou"d a"so "i+e to t)an+ m partners for t)eir contributions and support2 <ast"! I #ou"d "i+e to t)an+ m! science teac)er, /r2 Wat+ins for )is assistance in finis)ing m! pro-ect and ans#ering t)e m!riad of >uestion I constant"! t)re# at )im2

Abstract: Sustainable sources of electricity are a necessity for the future of the human race due to global warming issues. There are several sustainable sources of electricity but there is still a need for an energy carrier that is a fuel. The perfect sustainable energy carrying fuel is hydrogen. There are multiple routes to the production of hydrogen but the most sustainable one is through electrolysis. lectrolysis is the di!ision of "ater by electricity. #hen a current is passed through "ater, the ions regain their lost electrons and become "hole atoms again. The most efficient form of electrolysis is "ith a high current. $f this high current "ith a similarly high !oltage is direct current, meaning that it is going in one direction, then it can be put straight into "ater to split it. %ut, a current that is alternating bac& and forth, than it can be put through a transformer to increase the current in e'change for dropping the !oltage. Through e'perimentation and mathematics, it "as found that a high current is more important than the !oltage "hen electrolysing a solution. $f a sustainable source of electricity, such as solar po"er "as used to electrolyse the "ater, than the "hole system "ould be sustainable and should be used for fuel production.

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