Question

The compounds formed at anode in the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of potassium acetate, are

• A. $ {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{6}} $ and $ C{{O}_{2}} $
• B. $ {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{4}} $ and $ C{{O}_{2}} $
• C. $ C{{H}_{4}} $ and $ {{H}_{2}} $
• D. $ C{{H}_{4}} $ and $ C{{O}_{2}} $

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

This is an example of Kolbes electrolysis. $ 2C{{H}_{3}}COOK\xrightarrow{electrolysis}2C{{H}_{3}}CO{{O}^{-}}+2{{K}^{+}} $ At cathode: $ 2{{K}^{+}}+2{{e}^{-}}\xrightarrow{{}}2K $ $ 2K+2{{H}_{2}}O\xrightarrow{{}}2KOH+{{H}_{2}}\uparrow $ At anode: $ 2C{{H}_{3}}CO{{O}^{-}}\xrightarrow{{}}2\underset{\begin{align} & \downarrow -2C{{O}_{2}} \\ & 2C{{\overset{\centerdot }{\mathop{H}}\,}_{3}} \\ & \downarrow \\ & {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{6}} \\ \end{align}}{\mathop{C}}\,{{H}_{3}}CO\overset{\centerdot }{\mathop{O}}\,+2{{e}^{-}} $