Predict the products of electrolysis in each of the following:
(i) An aqueous solution of AgNO3 with silver electrodes
(ii) An aqueous solution AgNO3 with platinum electrodes
(iii) A dilute solution of H2SO4 with platinum electrodes
(iv) An aqueous solution of CuCl2 with platinum electrodes.
(i) AgNO3 ionizes in aqueous solutions to form Ag+ and NO3- ions.
On electrolysis, either Ag+ ions or H2O molecules can be reduced at the cathode. But we know that the reduction potential of Ag+ ions is higher than that of H2O.
Hence, Ag+ ions are reduced at the cathode. Similarly, Ag metal or H2O molecules can be oxidized at the anode. But the oxidation potential of Ag is higher than that of H2O molecules.
Therefore, Ag metal gets oxidized at the anode.
(ii) We know that Pt cannot be oxidized easily. Hence, at the anode, oxidation of water occurs to liberate O2 . At the cathode, Ag+ ions are reduced and gets deposited.
(iii) H2SO4 ionizes in aqueous solutions to give H+ and SO42- ions as follows –
On electrolysis, either of the H+ ions or H2O molecules can get reduced at the cathode. But we know that the reduction potential of H+ ions is higher than that of H2O molecules.
Hence, at the cathode, H+ ions are reduced to liberate H2 gas.
On the other hand, at the anode, either of ions or H2O molecules can get oxidized. But the oxidation of involves breaking of more bonds than that of H2O molecules. Hence, ions have a lower oxidation potential than H2O. Thus, H2O is oxidized at the anode to liberate O2 molecules.
(iv) In aqueous solutions, CuCl2 ionizes to give Cu2+ and Cl- ions as shown below:
On electrolysis, either of Cu2+ ions or H2O molecules can get reduced at the cathode. But we know that the reduction potential of Cu2+ is more than that of H2O molecules.
Hence, Cu2+ ions are reduced at the cathode and gets deposited there.
Similarly, at the anode, either of Cl- or H2O is oxidized. The oxidation potential of H2O is higher than that of Cl- .
But oxidation of H2O molecules occurs at a lower electrode potential than that of Cl- ions because of over-voltage (extra voltage required to liberate gas). As a result, Cl- ions are oxidized at the anode to liberate Cl2 gas.