i was working with the electrolosis of water, and i was using copper wires, i ended up with a black, greyish solid dissolved in salt water (i added salt when i started the elactrolysis) im trying to figure out what it is, what can i do to test it for copper? (i cant use a flame, and i dont have access to many chemicals, im a HS student) if you could, it would be nice if you could e-mail it to me at wrestler-tdz@hotmail.com

Edited September 26, 200817 yr by 11tzizel
forgot something

A black solid from copper is usually copper oxide. If there was a foamy looking blue stuff lying on the bottom also, that is a dead give away for copper oxide. The blue stuff is copper hydroxide, and when it is heated, it forms black copper oxide.

 

If you are making hydrogen and oxygen, you can get better result by using magnesium sulphate, aka Epsom salt.

Also, instead of using copper wires for your electrodes, use carbon (graphite). Much harder to oxidize. Platinum is ideal... but its not so easy to come by

Frosch makes a good point. Carbon electrodes can easily be found by taking apart dry cell batteries (usually lantern size). I've found that these electrodes can erode when running large current through them, so keep that in mind also.