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To better understand whether or not water can be made, it is necessary to know some qualities of its components.
Oxygen Characteristics
Oxygen is a colorless and odorless gas that is part of water, air, living things and almost everything around us. Its chemical symbol is O. It is nonmetallic and highly reactive, forming compounds with most elements except helium and neon.
Oxygen is also a strong oxidizing agent and the second most electronegative of all the elements, after fluorine. In nature, elemental oxygen is produced by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. It is an essential element for cellular respiration and combustion.
Hydrogen Characteristics
Hydrogen is the chemical element with the simplest molecular structure on the periodic table. Due to its particular properties, it is not part of any group. It is a flammable, colorless and odorless gas. It is also a non-metallic element and is not soluble in water.
Hydrogen is considered the most abundant chemical element, since it constitutes 75% of the matter in the universe. In its natural state it is quite rare on Earth and is produced industrially from hydrocarbons such as methane. It can also be obtained from water, through the electrolysis process.
how can you make water
The need for water during periods of drought, in desert places or in those places that do not have a nearby drinking water source, makes us consider the possibility of making water.
At first glance, making water seems simple, since it only consists of two elements: oxygen and hydrogen, which are also very common.
In theory, it is possible to make water if both gases are mixed and enough heat is provided to start the chemical reaction between these elements.
The water molecule is produced from the combustion of the elements that compose it: hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). This reaction is represented as follows:
2H 2 + O 2 → 2H 2 O + energy
However, in practice, the mixture of these two elements cannot occur at room temperature, because hydrogen and oxygen molecules do not spontaneously form water. In order to form water, enough energy must be supplied to break the covalent bonds that hold hydrogen and oxygen molecules together. In this way, chemical bonds can be rearranged to produce water. But this reaction is exothermic, that is, it releases heat and also produces an explosion.
Why is it difficult to make water?
The reaction of hydrogen and oxygen is basically the combustion of hydrogen. And here are two important points to keep in mind: hydrogen is highly flammable, and oxygen fuels combustion. Therefore, in order for the chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen to occur and water is formed, it is necessary to supply energy and as a result, an explosion occurs. This can have fatal consequences.
For this reason, water is created for demonstration purposes in small quantities and in controlled environments, such as laboratories. In large quantities, the production of water carries many risks. In addition, it is much more expensive to get the hydrogen and oxygen to drive the reaction than it is to create water using other methods, such as condensing water vapor, purifying polluted water, or desalinating seawater.
experiments to make water
One of the first scientists interested in knowing in depth how the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen occurs to form water was the French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier. To do this, he created an apparatus to form water from hydrogen and oxygen and to observe the reaction. Basically, two bells were used, one for hydrogen and one for oxygen, and the combustion reaction was started through a mechanism.
Through this experiment, Lavoisier discovered the important role of oxygen in the combustion of hydrogen to form water. Also, he allowed him to show that a gas must have mass for combustion to occur, and that mass is conserved after the reaction. In addition, the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce water helped him to study oxidation reactions.
experiment 1
One of the simplest experiments to make water is to put oxygen and hydrogen in a container and turn it on.
This must be done in a controlled manner, preferably in a laboratory and taking care in handling oxygen and hydrogen. It is recommended to use a small amount of each element. It is also suggested to use a heat resistant container and preferably, of some unbreakable material.
experiment 2
Another common chemical experiment is to fill a small balloon with hydrogen and oxygen. A protective shield should be put up, and from afar, touch the balloon with a burning rod.
Another option is to fill the balloon with hydrogen and ignite it in midair. The oxygen in the air will react to form water, but the reaction will be more controlled.
Bibliography
- Saxena, S.K.; VK Chhibber, VK Water with its chemistry . (2020). Spain. Spanish Academic Editorial.
- Moreno Rodríguez, JA; Moreno Rdz, A.; Moreno Rdz, LA Chemistry in Action . General Chemistry Experiments . (2018). Spain. Spanish Academic Editorial.
