• Question: Can you split a molecule?

    Asked by Blackbandanna5 to Alex, Anaïs, Peter, Sarwat, Shreesha on 9 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Alexander Henderson

      Alexander Henderson answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      Yes – a molecule can consist of many atoms and then can be “broken up” and or fragmented.

    • Photo: Anaïs Pujol

      Anaïs Pujol answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      Yes, this is what chemical reactions do, all the time.

      Ask to your science teacher to split water into Oxygen and hydrogen by using the processes of electrolysis. If an electrical current is passed through water between electrodes (the positive and minus poles of a battery), the water is split into its two parts: oxygen and hydrogen.
      For the experiment you will need
      – A 9 volt battery
      – Two regular number 2 pencils (remove eraser and metal part on the ends)
      – Salt
      – Thin cardboard
      – Electrical wire
      – Small glass
      – Water

      You will see gas formation at the two different pencil (hydrogen and chrlorine gas). The hydrogen will come from water and chlorine from your NaCl. Good luck 🙂

    • Photo: Sarwat Iqbal

      Sarwat Iqbal answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      Yes, that is exactly what we do in our everyday chemistry. Molecules are composed of atoms, and they can be broken to create new species.

    • Photo: Peter Maskell

      Peter Maskell answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      yes. the others have given good answers.

    • Photo: Shreesha Bhat

      Shreesha Bhat answered on 10 Mar 2015:

      Explained very well and in great detail by others!

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