Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe.
Hydrogen is a light gas that accounts for three-quarters of all the elemental mass in the entire universe. It's widely used in the processing of fossil fuels into gasoline but has also been investigated as an alternative energy source because it produces only heat and water when burned. Hydrogen can readily be obtained by the reaction of zinc metal with acid.
Instructions
Preparing the Apparatus
1. Fill the collection bottle halfway with water and plug it with a two-hole stopper.
2. Run a tube through one hole of the stopper in the collection bottle so the tube goes into the water and almost reaches the bottom of the bottle.
3. Place the other end of this tube in an empty beaker.
4. Run a second tube into the second hole of the collection bottle stopper. Push this tube into the bottle so that it stops short of touching the water.
5. Run the other end of this tube through the top of a one-hole stopper so that it protrudes an inch or so out the other end of the stopper.
Making Hydrogen
6. Weigh out about 0.5 grams of zinc metal and place it in the bottom of the Erlenmeyer flask.
7. Measure out about 10 milliliters of hydrochloric acid via the graduated cylinder and pour it into the test tube, being careful not to get any on the outside of the tube.
8. Carefully place the test tube containing hydrochloric acid in the Erlenmeyer so it sits against the inner wall of the flask and no acid spills out.
9. Stopper the Erlenmeyer flask opening with the one-hole stopper. The Erlenmeyer will now be connected to the collection bottle via a tube.
10. Pick up the Erlenmeyer and carefully tilt it so the hydrochloric acid runs out of the test tube and onto the zinc in the bottom of the flask. Ensure no acid leaks out of the flask stopper. Replace the flask. The zinc and acid will react to produce bubbles of hydrogen gas (zinc chloride will also be created but will remain dissolved in the acid).
Tags: collection bottle, hydrochloric acid, test tube, this tube, bottle tube