In a try to prepare hydrogen gas in a balloon, I used aluminum foil with conc. soln of NaOH, KOH and HCl. I noticed that the Balloon was filled with gas (mostly H2) but it did not fly. I could not understand why that is. Any one has an explanation? and how to fix that?
The gas was flammable and the balloon exploded when fire touched it.
Dear Zeinhom, Your gas is definitely hydrogen. May be balloon is too heavy and it is a reason that it can't fly. The molar mass of hydrogen is 2g and for air this value is 29 g. So 1 mole of H2 (22.4 L) can carry the weight of 27 g. It is needed about 1 L of gas for 1 g of balloon weight.
The reaction between aluminum foll and NaOH is as follows in the presence of water
2 Al + 2 NaOH + 6 H2O → 2 Na[Al(OH)4] + 3 H2;
other possible reactions may be
2 Al + 2 NaOH + 2 H2O → 3 H2 + 2 NaAlO2
2 Al + 6 NaOH + x H2O → 3 H2 + 2 Na3AlO3 + x H2O
Since concentric solution of NaOH, KOH and HCL+ Aluminum foil
The products may be NaAlO2 + KAlO2+ AlCl3+H2 in the presence of water only
In your research; Water is not used, the concentration of H2 is low ( However, it forms with the hydroxyl atoms from NaOH, KOH and also from HCl though water is not added)..
Dear krishna..I am sorry if I did not explain well. I meant... I carried three experiments. The first was Al + NaOH . The second was Al + KOH. The third was Al + HCl.
I was trying to make balloon fly. But the resulting gas (mainly H2) did not fly. And my Question is... If this is H2, why did not fly?. If this is not H2, what else?
Dear Dr. Zeinhom M, El-Bahy,
Several years back, in US, alumiumtanker carrying NaOH solution got explosed due to formation of H2 gas.
In your experiment H2 was formed with the reaction of Al and NaOH. Why the baloon containing H2 gas did not fly is beyond my imagination.
Dear Zeinhom, Your gas is definitely hydrogen. May be balloon is too heavy and it is a reason that it can't fly. The molar mass of hydrogen is 2g and for air this value is 29 g. So 1 mole of H2 (22.4 L) can carry the weight of 27 g. It is needed about 1 L of gas for 1 g of balloon weight.
Did you dry the gas you were obtaining? Otherwise you carry microdroplets of water with your H2 which make the balloon heavier.
Dear Maddali, thank you so much for your intension to help. Your answers were so usefull for me. It was infirmative too.
Dear Dmitry... thank you very much for your usefull information. I think the balloon was heavy as you suggested. I will try with a lighter one. Thank you
Dear E. STRUB .. I thought about it before.. but I beleived that gas is able to carry balloon even if it was not dried. However, I will try the experiment again and fill balloon after drying. I will tell u the result after. Thank you again
Dear every body.... thank you for your help. I did ... the balloon flyied with hydrogen. I prepared hydrogen and took the advice of E. Strub in consideration. I used a condenser to condense water vapor and other gas contaminants. Thank you again and again.
Dear Dr. Z M El-Bahy,
Your efforts are really appreciable and your scientific zeal is tremendous to carryout the expermental work. Wish you good luck
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