Hydrogen Production

probably not hydrogen, H2S maybe.... Did you boil up some cabbage in that kettle?

When I descale my kettle some gas is released. (please tell me it is hydrogen).

It's Hydrogen.

I'm lying.

It's really CO2. The scale is probably calcium carbonate, which when mixed with vinegar (acetic acid) will give off CO2.

Active metals (sodium, potassium) in water will produce H2. Aluminum and lye (Drano) when mixed with water gives off H2.

Hi Ken

I was working om a get rich scheme and now you tell me I am a major cause of global warming.

Maybe I deserve some carbon credits if I don't descale the kettle.

In descaling your kettle, I suspect the gas you see is carbon dioxide (CO2). That comes from hard water, and with the minerals you list, they contain lots of calcium carbonate (sorry, no hydrogen!). Electrolysis is the most common way to break water down into hydrogen(H2) and oxygen (O2). Direct current is required (6 to 12 volts is plenty) The amps govern the rate at which hydrogen is generated. Hydrogen can be collected at one electrode and oxygen at the other, or all the H2 and O2 can be collected together and is known as "Brown's Gas". (Presumably named after some guy named Brown who first described or made use of it). Any hydrogen collected will have a partial pressure of water vapor with it. Solar cells may be a suitable power source if this is the way you want to go.