Question

Is it possible to produce hydrogen by decomposition of water by means of heat, electricity or light?

Answer 1

Yes. Water can be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by different forms of energy:

• By electricity (electrolysis): Yes. Passing an electric current through water splits it into hydrogen and oxygen.
• By heat (thermolysis): Yes, but only at extremely high temperatures (around 2000 – 3000°C or higher), so it is not practical for most applications.
• By light (photolysis): Yes. Using sunlight and suitable photocatalysts or in certain biological systems, water can be split into hydrogen and oxygen. This is an area of ongoing research.