Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name         Andrew
status       student
age          17

Question -   I just want to get this straight, when water is
electrolyzed the hydrogen ions (H+) that are formed combine almost
instantaneously to form molecular hydrogen (H2). Because presuming they
do, if a cathode and an anode are placed in such as way that the hydrogen
will flow into the intervening area, with the electrons flowing from the
cathode to the anode ionize the molecular hydrogen, and if they do will
the hydrogen become positively or negatively charged?
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Dear Andrew,
I'm sorry, but the way you've phrased the questions
has made it difficult for me to understand exactly
what it is that you are asking. Could you
please rephrase the question?

Robert Q. Topper, Ph.D.
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Let's straighten you out at the beginning.  At the cathode, electrons are
added to water, making
        e- + H2O = H + OH-.
The liberated H ATOMS (not H+) combine to form H2, which immediately
bubbles out of the solution.


        Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph. D.

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