The+Chemistry+Behind+My+Experiment

​​ The egg-splosive demonstration explores the hidden misconception behind hydrogen, which is not explosive by itself. It is a single-displacement reaction, which is a type of oxidation-reduction chemical reaction when an element or ion moves out of one compound and into another (A+BX--AX+B). An ordinary egg shell, which has been completely removed of its contents in order to prevent any premature blow ups, is used to exhibit the actual conditions needed for hydrogen to have explosive powers. Along with the aid of a butane lighter, when hydrogen gas enters the hollow shell, an extremely rapid but effective pop splits the egg shell. The production of the hydrogen gas is done through the process of concocting a mixture of mossy zinc and hydrochloric acid. Of course hydrogen is generated through a number of industrial methods. In order to list a few it can be noted that hydrogen can currently be produced from natural gas from three different chemical processes including steam reforming, partial oxidation, and autothermal reforming. Other processes involve water in the form of electrolysis. Hydrogen is widely produced for many purposes and is therefore more useful than dangerous.

First, I need to mention some information on one of the primary materials, the mossy zinc, which is actually a form of zinc with a granular feel. This texture plays a crucial role due to the zinc's increased surface area. The small particles are spread out and are easily exposed to any acid. The granular zinc itself is made by pouring zinc into a water bath, which causes the metal to turn into beads as it cools. It forms little droplets as it comes in contact with the water. Thus this mossy zinc will now have a higher reactivity.

Steam reforming is the main technology used for hydrogen production. The hydrogen is produced through the use of natural gas and other hydrocarbons. When the hydrocarbon reacts with water vapor at extremely high temperatures, the product is called syngas. Syngas is the name for a gas mixture of varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The term actually refers to the act of creating synthetic natural gas. In the second stage, hydrogen is generated through the lower temperature water gas shift reaction, that is performed at about 130 degrees celsius. The oxygen is essentially removed from the steam to oxidize carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is a byproduct that can be seperated, removed, and disposed of. Carbon dioxide is a major exhaust in all production of hydrogen from fossil fuels. The percentage of CO2 will vary with respect to the hydrogen content. So that the emmisions can remain zero, theCO2 should be captured and stored. This process is known as decarbonisation, there are three options that include post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion. The transportation of the carbon dioxide, whether it be pipeline or ship or both, it depends on the location of the plant and the storage area. Overall, the hydrogen produced by this steam reformation costs approximately three times the cost of natural gas per unit of energy produced.

Partial oxidation of natural gas is the process where hydrogen is produced through partial combustion of methane with oxygen gas to carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Heat is produced, so it must be exothermic. The carbon monoxide is converted into H2 as described in this equation: CH4+1/2o2--CO+2H2+heat. ​

Autothermal reforming is a combination of both steam reforming and partial oxidation. The reaction is exothermic (releasing energy). The outlet temperatures can reach up to 1100 degrees Celsius. The carbon monoxide produced is then converted into H2.

A variety of creative process technologies are used other than the ones mentioned, they range from chemical, biological, electrolytic, photolytic, and thermo-chemical. Each offers a set of advantages and disadvantages. The first commercial technology concerning hydrogen dates back to the late 1920s, where it was produced from the electrolysis of water producing pure hydrogen. During the 1960s, the industrial production of hydrogen shifted to the fossil based feedstock we know today. Water electrolysis can be thought of as the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through the application of electrical energy. The chemical formula for this is: H2O+1/2O2---H2+1/2O2. Since the process uses a renewable electrical energy supply, such as hydropower or wind turbine, the electrolysis of water is done without Green House Gas emissions. The electricity consumed is more valuable than the hydrogen produced so it has not been widely used in the past.

​High temperature electrolysis uses heat as the principal form of energy supply. This type of electrolysis is better when high temperature heat is available. Thus it is based on technology from high temperature fuel cells. Splitting water at 1000 degrees Celsius reduces the electrical energy needed. This is an indication that high temperature electrolyser can operate at significantly higher efficiencies than a low temperature electrolyser. A common electrolyser is the Solid Oxide Electrolyser. (An electrolyser is basically an instrument that converts the water into hydrogen and oxygen).

Biocatalysed electrolysis involves using microbes; microbial fuel cells, wastewater or plants are used to generate power. This process is totally different from what is called biological hydrogen production, which only uses algae to generate hydrogen. This process uses a variety of plants and the algae generate hydrogen only after running through the microbial fuel cell. The plants include reed sweetgrass, rice, and tomatoes. 

Hydrogen is used for the creation of ammonia for fertilizer via the Haber process, converting petroleum sources into lighter fractions via hydrocracking and other processes.

So the question of hydrogen, which is nontoxic, being explosive goes back to an event in history. The famous Hidenburg blimp explosion in Lakenhurst, New Jersey in 1937 killed 36 people. It is probably why hydrogen is believed to be explosive today. Though in 1997, a man named Addison Bain, a NASA researcher, investigated the crash. After careful examination, he concluded that hydrogen did not cause the explosion but an electrostatic charge ignited the blimp's highly flammable waterproof skin, which was made of lacquer and metal-based paints that were similar to rocket fuel. Witnesses had described the fire as colorful, which cancels out hydrogen since it is colorless when burned. The only factor that might of lead hydrogen to be the culprit is it's tendency to ignite around fire.