I must not be doing it right - electrolysis

[smokeythecat]

Plastic container, water with baking soda in it (more than enough) new battery charger with 2, 4 and 6 amp settings. Stainless steel piece for the positive side and old copper coin for the negative. Power is on. The "charging" light on this thing is supposed to light up indicating it senses a battery. No battery, apparently and no bubbles. Suggestions? Is it smarter than I am, knowing there is no "battery"?

 

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[Jim in Idaho]

Could be. maybe it's an automatic of some kind, and needs to sense a voltage before charging. I would get rid of the stainless for the anode.....bad chemicals end up in the water. hexavalent chromium, like in the movie with Julia Roberts about the legal assistant. Bad for your health, and bad for the environment. Best to use a hunk of copper, or plain steel.
Also, washing soda works better than baking soda.
All the best,
Jim