Identify the Elements That Make Up Water and the Proportion of Each in a Water Molecule

Purpose:

The purpose of the experiment is to identify the elements that make up water and the proportion of each in a water molecule.

Hypothesis:

The elements that make up water are hydrogen and oxygen and will be in a 2:1 ratio. I believe this because the chemical formula for water is H2O (2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen).

Materials:

• Power supply (6v)
• Red connecting wire
• Black connecting wire
• Test tube rack
• 2 10mL graduated test tubes
• Tongs
• 2 rubber stoppers (size 00)
• Watch glass
• Matches
• Containers of wooden splits
• Gloves
• Electrolysis chamber (containing 1.0M NaOH)

Procedure:

1. Set up apparatus according to the diagram on previous page.
2. Plug in power supply (do not turn on).
3. Attach the connection wires to the power supply using the banana clip side.
4. Attach the connection wires to the electrolysis chamber using the alligator clip side.
5. Use tongs to fill up the graduated test tubes in the chamber. Makes sure no bubbles are left inside the graduated test tubes.
6. Place the graduated test tubes on the pins inside the electrolysis chamber.
7. Clean tongs with Windex
8. Turn on the power supply.
9. Take down data and record observations.
10. Turn off power supply.
11. Remove connection wires.
12. Remove positive and negative graduated test tubes from electrolysis chamber keeping them vertical and plug them with the rubber stoppers.
13. Perform glowing splint test in the graduated test tubes and record observations
14. Clean station.

Analysis:

Chemical reaction:  white bubbles, level of substance in graduated test tubes lowers.

Based on the properties observed the 2 gases produced were hydrogen and oxygen.