Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

This Project uses Phosphate buffer solution which is a water-based salt solution, But If I used water What would happen Would the Water Splitting reaction not happen?

The phosphate buffer solution acts as a "catalyst", as the article describes. The purpose of any catalyst is to assist and accelerate reactions. In this case, you could use plain, un-buffered water, but the reaction would be much slower.

However, you could not use distilled water. The experiment relies on the exchange of ions between the two metal strips. Those ions must flow through the water. As distilled water has no free ions, it will not allow any reaction to occur.

Have fun with this experiment. It's a good one.