In the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride with inert electrodes the products obtained at anode and cathode respectively are

Question

In the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride with inert electrodes the products obtained at anode and cathode respectively are (A) Cl2 and Na (B) O2 and Na (C) Cl2 and H2 (D) Na and Cl2

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

In the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride with inert electrodes, the products obtained at anode and cathode respectively are

C l_{2}

and

H_{2}

.

The solution contains four ions

N a^{+}, C l^{-}, H^{+}, \overline{O} H .

Following reaction takes place:

At cathode

N a^{+} (a q) + e^{-} ⟶ N a (s);

E_{N a^{+} / N a}^{-} = - 2.71 V

2 H_{2} O (l) + 2 e^{-} ⟶ H_{2} (g) + 2 \overline{O} H (a q);

E_{H_{2} O / H_{2}}^{\circ} = - 0.83 V

At anode

2 C l^{-} (a q) ⟶ C l_{2} (g) + 2 e^{-}; E_{C l^{-} / C l_{2}}^{\circ} = - 1.36 V

2 H_{2} O_{2} (l) ⟶ O (g) + 4 H^{+} (a q) + 4 e^{-}

E_{H_{2} O / O_{2}}^{\circ} = - 1.23 V

E_{H_{2} O / H_{2}}^{\circ} > E_{N a^{+} / N a}^{\circ} .

So,

H_{2}

is formed at cathode.

Whereas

E_{H_{2} O / O_{2}}^{\circ} > E_{C l^{-} / C l_{2}}^{\circ} .

So,

C l_{2}

is formed at anode.

Q. In the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride with inert electrodes the products obtained at anode and cathode respectively are

$C l_{2}$ and $N a$

$O_{2}$ and $N a$

$C l_{2}$ and $H_{2}$

$N a$ and $C l_{2}$

Q. In the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride with inert electrodes the products obtained at anode and cathode respectively are

Cl2​ and Na

O2​ and Na

Cl2​ and H2​

Na and Cl2​

$C l_{2}$ and $N a$

$O_{2}$ and $N a$

$C l_{2}$ and $H_{2}$

$N a$ and $C l_{2}$