ELECTROLYSIS OF H​2​O USING DIFFERENT ELECTROLYTES

INTRODUCTION de-ionized water before moving on to testing

the nitric acid.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

METHODOLOGY
The following are the recorded
First, the researcher prepared 80 mL of observations from the experiment:
potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution and 80mL
of nitric acid (HNO​3​) solution by adding 1 mol
(4.4993 g) of KOH with water in a graduated
beaker and 1 mol (3. 36mL) of HNO​3 with water
in another. 80mL of tap water and de-ionized
water was also prepared in separate beakers.

Figure 3: Results after three minutes of submersion--left:

de-ionized water, right--tap water.

With the de-ionized water, no

Figure 1: Preparation of different medium. observable changes happened in the solution.
No bubbles formed, and there was no
The de-ionized water was tested significant change in temperature. With the tap
first—the electrode used in this experiment water, however, small bubbles were being
was platinum wire, which were hooked up slowly produced.
onto an 8.4V NiMH battery via connectors.
The wires were submerged, all the while still
separate, into the medium. The reaction is
observed and the researcher tallies up
important data and observations.

Figure 2: Set-up.

The set-up in Figure 2 was done for all

the electrolytes being tested one at a time,
with an approximate 3-minute observation
time for each until the next. De-ionized water Figure 4: Results after three minutes of submersion--top,
was followed by tap water and so on; potassium hydroxide; bottom, nitric acid.
however, after the KOH solution was tested,
For the battery, the cathode side is
the platinum wires had to be washed with
positive, while the anode side is negative—for
the electrolyzer, it is the cathode side that is
negative, while the anode side is positive.

With the potassium hydroxide,

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Results may be affected by slight delays

in tallying the data, hence the intervals not
being very exact. This may cause it to be
slightly inaccurate.

REFERENCES