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Chapter 5: Problem 65

A student decides to boil water to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Will this work? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, boiling water will not produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Boiling water is a physical change that turns water into vapor, but the chemical composition of water (H2O) remains unchanged. To produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, a chemical change must occur through a process called water electrolysis, which involves passing an electric current through water to break down the molecules into their constituent elements.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the process of boiling water

Boiling water is a physical process in which water changes its state from liquid to vapor due to heat input. During this process, the water molecules gain kinetic energy, which causes them to break the hydrogen bonds between them and move further apart, forming water vapor. This transformation occurs at a specific temperature called the boiling point, which is 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) under normal atmospheric pressure.
02

Examine the effect on water's chemical composition

It is important to recognize that boiling water is a physical change, not a chemical change. The chemical composition of water remains the same before and after boiling; it is still composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O). The only difference is the state of matter (from liquid to gas).
03

Determine the possibility of hydrogen and oxygen production

To produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water, a chemical change must occur in which water molecules are split into their constituent elements. This process is known as water electrolysis: \[2H_2O(l) \rightarrow 2H_2(g) + O_2(g)\] Electrolysis involves passing an electric current through water to break down water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gas. This process is not achieved through boiling water, as boiling is a physical change and does not alter the chemical composition of water. #Conclusion#
04

Answer the exercise question

Based on our understanding of boiling water and the chemical processes involved in producing hydrogen and oxygen gas, we can conclude that boiling water will not work to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Boiling water only causes a physical change in the state of matter and does not cause a chemical reaction that would result in the production of hydrogen and oxygen gas.

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