Gathering of the Figments

Hawkins

Okay, two hydrogen atoms plus one oxygen atom equals one molecule of water. H2O. More than one atom equals a molecule. Okay, now that that's out of the way...

Now, let's think of a fire. Burning hydrogen, actually. Okay, so we burn the hydrogen and the fire is using the hydrogen as fuel. Now, we introduce oxygen, and the fire is using both HYDROGEN and OXYGEN as fuel. Theoretically, it ought to produce water. Even the smallest bit, like some water vapor.

Let's all think about the Hindenburg, shall we? Minus the fact that it burned because it was painted with rocket fuel, let's just pretend that it was the hydrogen that killed it.
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Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*

ArcT · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

Umm, that's exactly what a Hydrogen-Oxygen reaction produces. Why else would the adverts for hydrogen cars say that they produce pure water?

If you're expecting a splash instead of a bang, you've got to remember that nearly every chemical reaction is exothermic - it emits heat rather than takes heat in - which means that with no way of condensing the water, it just vapourises before you can visually detect it. Following the car thing, the energy produced by the H+O2 reaction is converted into electrical energy that is converted into kinetic by the movement induced by a magnetic field on a coil of wire that has current flowing through it (or a motor Wink

)

The reaction does produce water, as you pointed out, but it's not as much as the energy produced. There are simple calculations (but with biatches for numbers) that you can use to work out how much energy each reaction makes (E=MC2 actually being one of the most simple!), and when you multiply that energy by the millions of billions of atoms in each reaction, you get a lot of energy.

EDIT

Here's the number crunching used to work out the difference in mass between two oxygen and one hydrogen molecule and one water molecule:

E=MC2 - or Energy = Mass x Speed of light squared.

Speed of light = 3^8 metres per second

Mass of hydrogen = 1 proton = 1.67^-27 kg

Mass of oxygen = 8 protons = 8 x 1.67^-27 kg and 8 neutrons = 8 x 1.67^-27

(electrons are assumed to have negligible mass)

The mass of a water molecule is slightly less than this, so if we take this mass away from the amalgamation of two Oxygen and one Hydrogen, we end up with what is sensibly called the mass difference (i.e. the difference in mass between the water and the parts that make it up). This is the only physical case in which the sum of parts is equal to MORE than the total (again, because mass is dependant on energy. It takes energy to stick atoms together, so some of their mass is used to do that).

Then, putting the mass difference into E=MC2, making E=massdifference x C2, as we know both the mass difference and speed of light (3^8 metres per second), we can work out the energy emitted. Which will be horiffically small.

But then multiply that by the amount of water molecules you have left (or the total mass/mass of single water molecule of your final sample), and you'll have the total energy emitted by the reaction.

Which won't be horrifically small - it'll be rather large.

And that will make no sense to some, eh? Razz

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And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything seems like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

Figment · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:10 pm Post subject:

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Shaye · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:24 am Post subject:

*runs away screaming*
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~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

DarkWaltz · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject:

haha, this is a great smiley!!

*applauds the amazingly smart and scientific ArcT* Now that my science lesson of the year is over, I think I'll go listen to some music...

Wink

*loves ArcT*

~J
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~DancingEponaTinuviel

pommie42 · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject:

Or, put simply:
Hydrogen+Oxygen+FIRE!!!=Water+Burnt remains of whatever you just torched...
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ArcT · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:25 am Post subject:

Well, yeah. Razz

_________________
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything seems like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

Hawkins · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:09 am Post subject:

You ruined my 15 minutes of geniusness.
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Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*

butterflii · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

Er . . . well, you bin told Hawky =]
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Spider, Spider, on the wall.
Have you got no sense at all?
Can't you see the walls been plastered.
Now you're stuck you stupid . . . spider.

Hawkins · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

*ties up ArcT and stuffs him in a closet*

Now for my next greatest theory--if you put a mans head in a sauna, and his feet in a freezer (while still obviously attatched to the body) statisticians know that he'll feel pretty good over all.

Rather sick as a mule and barfing his guts out withing minutes. RIGHT?!
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Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*