Designing A Reactor to Generate Hydrogen Bubbles

Hydrogen is produced by the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid. This reaction is used to illustrate the importance of considering thermodynamics when designing a chemical reactor. The gas released is collected in soap bubbles that rise in the air, indicating that a lighter than air gas has been produced. The bubbles can be lit to add a dramatic effect to the demonstration. The reaction is highly exothermic, raising the temperature of the reaction materials and the reactor. Batch operation of this reactor would require short cooling periods between reactions. Alternatively, a modification of the design is suggested to allow for continuous cooling of the vessel, which would allow semicontinuous operation of the reactor. (Zinc would have to be periodically replenished as it is consumed in the reaction.) The consequences associated with the cooling of the vessel are discussed.