Abstract: A method of recovering hydrogen and oxygen from water. Water and sulfur dide are supplied to, and hydrogen and sulfuric acid are removed from, a galvanic or electrolytic cell. Hydrogen ions are electrochemically liberated by anodic oxidation of the supplied sulfur dioxide accompanied by decomposition of the water and formation of sulfuric acid in the anolyte, and hydrogen gas is electrolytically generated at the cathode from the hydrogen ions. To evaporate water, electrolytic solution is removed from the anode chamber of the galvanic cell. The anode chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by means of a membrane. After the ensuing evaporation, the thus formed anhydride of the sulfuric acid is decomposed by being heated, and is accompanied by the formation of oxygen and sulfur dioxide gas. The sulfur dioxide is oxidized at a carbon and/or graphite anode in the presence of very small quantities, e.g. a minimum of 0.005% by weight, of hydriodic acid in the anolyte.