Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this experiment I want to show you how a salt water rheostat works, built by me using simple components. A rheostat is a type of variable resistor. When placed into an electrical circuit, a rheostat can be used to adjust and control the amount of current flowing around it. They do this by varying the resistance on the circuit, without interrupting the supply of power.
The bubbles you see forming in salt water are hydrogen and chlorine in the form of gas. In the electrolysis of salt water (a solution of sodium chloride in water), chlorine is produced at the positive pole (anode) because salt water contains sodium ions and chloride ions. When an electric current is applied, the ions are attracted to opposite electrodes: positive ions to the cathode (negative) and negative ions to the anode (positive). At the cathode, the water is reduced to form hydrogen and hydroxide ions, while at the anode, the chloride ions are oxidized to form chlorine gas. As a result, hydrogen gas is formed at the cathode and chlorine gas is formed at the anode.
This video is only for demonstration. I don't take any responsibility.
#experiment #diy #electricity
In this experiment I want to show you how a salt water rheostat works, built by me using simple components. A rheostat is a type of variable resistor. When placed into an electrical circuit, a rheostat can be used to adjust and control the amount of current flowing around it. They do this by varying the resistance on the circuit, without interrupting the supply of power.
The bubbles you see forming in salt water are hydrogen and chlorine in the form of gas. In the electrolysis of salt water (a solution of sodium chloride in water), chlorine is produced at the positive pole (anode) because salt water contains sodium ions and chloride ions. When an electric current is applied, the ions are attracted to opposite electrodes: positive ions to the cathode (negative) and negative ions to the anode (positive). At the cathode, the water is reduced to form hydrogen and hydroxide ions, while at the anode, the chloride ions are oxidized to form chlorine gas. As a result, hydrogen gas is formed at the cathode and chlorine gas is formed at the anode.
This video is only for demonstration. I don't take any responsibility.
#experiment #diy #electricity
