Answer 1:
I see two aspects to this question: (1)
whether it is even theoretically possible that the
atoms in two water molecules could be rearranged
to make two oxygen molecules and two hydrogen
molecules, and (2) whether there is a
process to break the bonds in water molecules.
To answer (1), we can write out the balanced
chemical equation for this process:
2*H2O -> 2*H2 + O2
(Count the atoms of each type in the reactants and
products. The balanced equation has the same
number of H and same number of O on each side)>
This shows that two water molecules have
sufficient atoms for two hydrogen molecules, but
only one oxygen molecule. (From the wording, I
interpreted the question to be asking about oxygen
molecules, O2, rather than monatomic
oxygen, O.
Monatomic oxygen does exist, and two water
molecules do contain two O's , but monatomic
oxygen is highly reactive and will readily
bond with other molecules unless there is heavy
UV radiation and few other molecules
nearby. This essentially means in outer space;
monatomic oxygen is not naturally extant in
significant amounts near the Earth's surface).
(2) Is essentially asking whether there is a way
to put enough energy into the molecule to break
the bonds holding the atoms together. There are
several methods by which this can be accomplished.
One well-known technique is called
electrolysis, which involves passing an
electric current through water. Here is a simple
experiment in which you can split water by using
the energy in a battery. Some other methods use
light, nuclear radiation, temperature, and
photosynthesis. Splitting of water requires
large amount of energy though, so it is typically
not cost-effective . However, the presence
of a catalyst will reduce the energy needed to
break the bonds, and an efficient means of
producing hydrogen from water would be a key
development toward the use of hydrogen as a common
fuel, like how we use fossil fuels today.
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Answer 2:
You can make oxygen and hydrogen from water.
But what you suggested is not possible because
the number of atoms are not equal. Let me
elaborate:
1) Water molecules are made of smaller atoms,
with two Hydrogen (H) atoms together with one
Oxygen (O) atom forming one water molecule. Or we
can simply put one water molecule as
H2O.
2) You can make hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from
water. One common way of doing such thing is by
electrolyzing water. The key is that water
will not decompose or transform into hydrogen gas
and oxygen gas automatically, you need to input
some extra energy to make this process
happening. Another key point is that during
the conversion, the total amount of atoms should
be conserved. That being said, we can write down
the process as:
2 H2O --> (electrolyze) --> 2
H2 + O2.
Here H2 is one hydrogen gas molecule
which has two hydrogen atoms. This is also true to
an oxygen gas molecule (O2).
Therefore, you can make two hydrogen gas
molecules and only one oxygen gas molecule from
two water molecules. Click Here to return to the search form.
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