Electrolysis of aqueous Sodium Chloride

Products produced by a molten electrolyte is easy when we know the cation and the anion. cation will be involving in the cathode reaction and the anion will be involving in the anodic reaction.

e.g Electrolysis of molten sodium chloride

Molten Sodium chloride contains Sodium ions which will produce sodium in the cathode,
Na+ +e  ---> Na

and chloride ions which will produce chlorine gas in the anode
2Cl-  -2e ---> Cl2

When the electrolysis of aqueous solution is considered the products produced in the anode and the cathode will be different as there are more than one ions present in the both anode and the cathode

e.g Electrolysis of aqueous Sodium chloride

In a solution of aqueous solution of Sodium chloride there are four types of ions. In addition to the Sodium (Na)and chloride (Cl-) ions there will be Hydrogen ( H+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions.

To the positive electrode Both the negative ions will be attracted. Most reactive anion (anions at higher positions of electro chemical series will discharge first. From Chloride and hydroxide ions in a concentrated aqueous solution the chloride ions will discharge and produce chlorine gas.

To the negative electrode both the Sodium and hydrogen ions will be attracted. here in this electrode the least reactive ion (According the reactivity series) will discharge first. Hydrogen will be produced by the discharge of Hydrogen ions. 

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April 8, 2018 at 4:31 AM delete

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