[Pbandjelly]

I was wondering if I could substitute salt for potassium hydroxide in and HHO generator for the catalyst. I wasn't sure if it needed to just be in impurity in the water to make a conductive or it needs to be Potassium hydroxide, if it has to be potassium hydroxide can you tell me why?

[Borek]

Hydroxides are best, they have high conductivity and there won't be side reactions.

It is not a catalyst though.

[Pbandjelly]

 That's right it's not a catalyst poor usage of words ha ha. But will salt work for a non-permanent, Small-scale test?

[Borek]

Depends on the salt. For example chlorides will initially give off chlorine instead of oxygen, once Cl^- is consumed you will be left with a hydroxide solution.

[billnotgatez]

@Pbandjelly
In addition to using GOOGLE and WIKIPEDIA
You might also try searching this forum for past discussions.
There have been several posts discussing electrolysis and  electrolysis of brine.

We encourage some self education prior to posting questions and you seem to be doing some reading but you might post a little more background so we can help you learn.

As a side note you might want to read our forum rules, if you have not done so already.
Click on the link near the top center of the forum page.
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting.

[billnotgatez]

I am wondering if thinking about the formulas for the chemicals discussed might give insight.

Could we use for water
HOH
and for Potassium hydroxide
KOH
and for salt
NaCl

Then we could look at the potential ions involved


But maybe it would be too distracting if you were talking about
Glauber's salt       (Sodium sulfate decahydrate)
Na₂SO₄·10H₂O

[Enthalpy]

So you want to conduct electrolysis with KOH but don't have any?
Salt isn't a good replacement: the products differ, and are more complicated since they react with an other.
But NaOH could replace KOH.

[Pbandjelly]

Thank you so much that's all I needed to know!

[Pbandjelly]

now i'm seeing on the internet that sodium hydroxide is very caustic when added with water.... is the just because in these videos its heated? i will be using electrolysis with water so the water will get hot. do i need to just buckle up and buy potassium hydroxide if i want to use it in a plastic container? also could i add an acid to this to stabilize it or will that cause side reaction or impurities in the hydrogen gas?

[Arkcon]

Which acid?  What reaction will you get with this acid, and what products will result?  What will be the result of electrolysis with this new salt?

These are questions you should try to work out when doing a process such as this one.  Chemistry is only kinda like cooking.  In cooking, a smidge of this, a pinch of that, cook it hotter for less time can lead to a ruined meal or a brilliant discovery, in chemistry it more often leads to disaster only.

[Pbandjelly]

HNao > NaO + H and H2O > H +  H + O i do believe. but before i do an experiment i need to know if my containers are sufficient.

[Borek]

Some  plastics are compatible with bases, some are not.

After you add an acid to the base you no longer have a mixture of acid and base, you have a completely new compound, salt.

[Arkcon]

HNao > NaO + H and H2O > H +  H + O i do believe. but before i do an experiment i need to know if my containers are sufficient.

Nope.  Read what Boreck: said, and write a different reaction, one that takes into account the formula of the acid you choose.

now i'm seeing on the internet that sodium hydroxide is very caustic when added with water

Potassium hydroxide is surely just as caustic as sodium hydroxide.  Check some high school level textbooks, not just Youtube.  Review the Youtube comments, has anyone else said just what I said?

[Pbandjelly]

I don't know where to start I suppose. Is There a more apt book or website you know if I could read instead of just a whole high school Chem books. I know a lot of the basics so I don't want I start from mass and water obviously, and a lot of school Chembooks Ive seen don't get into the real Chem. I have learned way more on the internet than what I learned in school chem. I just recently got into chem and could use a source so I do t have to make a new post every time I don't know something, even though his is a great forum.