Water Gas Reaction

Water gas is a combustible gas that can be obtained from water. It was used as heating gas and for cooking in gas stoves up until around the 1950's in the United States. To obtain the water gas a sample of charcoal, which is mainly carbon, is heated in a burner flame until it is hot enough to burn. Once the sample of charcoal has been ignited and the spoon in which it is being held is hot enough, it is placed into a flask full of oxygen. The carbon burns with a bright flame. When water runs down the handle of the spoon and contacts the burning charcoal, hydrogen gas and poisonous carbon monoxide gas form. Both gases are extremely combustible and they burn in the oxygen atmosphere producing a bright flash.

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© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.