4 ms·

I think the point is that it can use that small amount of energy to break the hydrogen bond in the water, releasing more energy than was used. Edit: Apparently

I think the point is that it can use that small amount of energy to break the hydrogen bond in the water, releasing more energy than was used. Edit: Apparently I made a mistake. See the correction, which I was the first to upvote.

jbri 16y ago
Breaking bonds does not release energy. Bonds are the way the are because they are (locally) the lowest-energy configuration for the atoms that are taking part. You need to put energy in to get out of a low-energy configuration. The device appears to use water->hydrogen as an energy storage mechanism, to solve (at some efficiency cost) the issue of energy demand generally being out of sync with the supply from the sun. You put energy in to convert water into hydrogen+oxygen, and then you can get that energy back out by converting it back into water.
- runningdogx 16y ago
  Since most reactions do not end up with all the constituent atoms as free ions, the real question is how the sum of bond energies of the reaction product(s) compares to the sum of bond energies of the starting molecule(s). In the case of water, 2 H20 -> 2 H2 + O2 is endothermic, but reactions do not have to be endothermic, or else chemistry would be very boring and cold.
corin_ 16y ago
Pisses me off that comments like the one I'm replying to get downvoted. He expressed his understanding of the science, if he's wrong then by all means explain why and upvote those who have explained why - but don't downvote just because somebody made a mistake, it's surely better to have the discussion than for nobody to bring it up.
- BoppreH 16y ago
  I won't upvote GP because it contains a factual error and you can't upvote only parts of a comment. If it was edited to include a note about the mistake, thus dismissing the error, I'm sure it'll get get some votes.
  - corin_ 16y ago
    I'm not saying upvote incorrect comments, but there is a place inbetween punishing and rewarding.
    - Natsu 16y ago
      I sometimes vote such comments towards one, especially if they're only one vote away.
  - michaelchisari 16y ago
    you can't upvote only parts of a comment Well, that's an interesting UI idea...

jbri 16y ago

Breaking bonds does not release energy. Bonds are the way the are because they are (locally) the lowest-energy configuration for the atoms that are taking part. You need to put energy in to get out of a low-energy configuration. The device appears to use water->hydrogen as an energy storage mechanism, to solve (at some efficiency cost) the issue of energy demand generally being out of sync with the supply from the sun. You put energy in to convert water into hydrogen+oxygen, and then you can get that energy back out by converting it back into water.

runningdogx 16y ago
Since most reactions do not end up with all the constituent atoms as free ions, the real question is how the sum of bond energies of the reaction product(s) compares to the sum of bond energies of the starting molecule(s). In the case of water, 2 H20 -> 2 H2 + O2 is endothermic, but reactions do not have to be endothermic, or else chemistry would be very boring and cold.

corin_ 16y ago

Pisses me off that comments like the one I'm replying to get downvoted. He expressed his understanding of the science, if he's wrong then by all means explain why and upvote those who have explained why - but don't downvote just because somebody made a mistake, it's surely better to have the discussion than for nobody to bring it up.

BoppreH 16y ago
I won't upvote GP because it contains a factual error and you can't upvote only parts of a comment. If it was edited to include a note about the mistake, thus dismissing the error, I'm sure it'll get get some votes.
- corin_ 16y ago
  I'm not saying upvote incorrect comments, but there is a place inbetween punishing and rewarding.
  - Natsu 16y ago
    I sometimes vote such comments towards one, especially if they're only one vote away.
- michaelchisari 16y ago
  you can't upvote only parts of a comment Well, that's an interesting UI idea...