• Question: we know the formula for water yeah, h2o, so why cant we make more water in labs and stuff and stop world thirst?

    Asked by cathyflash to Betul, Bridget, Ceri-Wyn, Laurel, Maria on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Betul Arslan

      Betul Arslan answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Oh mine, this is one of my favorite questions! Yes, you are right, all you need is hydrogen and oxygen but to bring hydrogen and oxygen atoms together, you need some sort of energy. Usually when we say energy we refer to heat, well, you can’t not give heat to these elements because hydrogen is extremely flammable and oxygen favors combustion. Thus, before you know it, you will end up with a “boom!” in the lab. Actually someone has tried this in late 20s I believe, and the consequences were fatal. Maybe in the future, we will find a way.

    • Photo: Laurel Fogarty

      Laurel Fogarty answered on 19 Jun 2010:

      The sad answer to this is that we CAN make water but it is an explosive reaction- its how they power rockets!

      However there is enough water- we can even clean up sea water, remove the salt to make drinking water. The fact is that this is not used to end world thirst, it is expensive to bring water to places where it is needed.

      There are a few charities that try to help though by building wells in places with no access to clean water. That way the thirsty get water and no one pays the price of transport. All in all building wells is a better solution because it provides water without the people having to rely on others- they can have it when they need it.

      But I agree that more should be done and more inventive solutions like yours should be considered.

    • Photo: Ceri-Wyn Thomas

      Ceri-Wyn Thomas answered on 20 Jun 2010:

      Um……?

    • Photo: Bridget Waller

      Bridget Waller answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Hi Cathy,

      You can make water from certain chemical and physical reactions, but the problem is that this usually costs huge amounts of energy! Energy is not an unlimited resource, and so trying to make water like this could be very inefficient. These things might change though…so it is a good question.

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