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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #1109
>
>
> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 03:51:20 -0800 (PST)
> From: "M. Pearlscott" <pearlsco at u_washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Electrode CO2
>
> > Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 08:58:15 +0800
> > From: "Chiao Lun" <ccl at cheerful_com>
> > Subject: New kind of CO2 kit ( electrode-based )
> >
> > I saw a CO2 kit at my LFS the other day and the cover said it put two
> > electrodes in the water and one of the electrodes would be made of carbon.
> > The Carbon electrode has a negative charge and the carbon reacts with the
> > oxygen produced while the other electrode bubbles hydrogen.
> >
> > The device is marked 150W and costs US$200
> >
> > Is such a device possible?
>
> Chiao,
>
> Sounds like an old experiment we used to do in highschool. We used two
> electrodes and break up water into hydrogen and oxygen. We then would
> light the hydrogen on fire. Made a really neat popping sound. Anyhow, I
> can't remember what the electrodes were made of, but I would be cautious
> of purchasing it. Talk to some local profs. at a nearby college to
> you. They should be able to tell you if you would really get CO2 out of
> the reaction. I also seem to remember that it used quite a bit of energy
> to drive the reaction. But if it's only 150Watts, that doesn't seem too
> bad. Let us know the more you find out about it.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mark
> - -------
> pearlsco at u_washington.edu
> ><> ><>
>
The experiment was the electrolysis of water using a zinc, negative(cathode)
and copper, positive (anode) terminals. The part the instructor probably didn't
tell you is that she/he added an acid to the water to make the reaction work
better. I searched all my old college chemistry texts, teacher demonstration
books but could find nothing for the electrolysis of CO2. Just about everything
else, but no kCO2.
I would conclude, all that bubbles from your aquarium water is not CO2! Buyer
beware!
Bill Ruff