Re: electrolysis

[brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>]

It is necessary to use DC in order to demonstrate the differing
 volumes of gases. AC produces the result you saw.
 Electrodes can indeed absorb copious quantities of gas - the 700:1 
ratio of palladium comes to mind - but this has a limit!

Whatcott   Altus

At 10:01 3/24/98 -0700, you wrote:
> I never understood chemistry and don't know any chemists, but I'll bet
> some physicists can help me on this one!  
>
> I tried to demonstrate electrolysis of water to some middle schoolers and
> I got bubbles all right but in a ratio of 1:1 not 2:1 as I "should" have.  
>
> In reading some kiddy science books I get the impression that the
> electrolyte and the electrodes have to be carefully chosen to get the
> "right" answer.  Can someone educate me here?
>
> Crawford MacCallum