What is one of the major products in the electrolysis of a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution?
Reduction Half-Reaction
E° (V)
Na⁺(aq) + e^- Na(s) -2.71
Mg²⁺(aq) + 2e^- Mg(s) -2.37
2H₂O(l) + 2e^- H₂(g) + 2OH^-(aq) -0.83
O₂(g) + 4H⁺(aq) + 4e^- 2H₂O(l) 1.23
Cl₂(g) + 2e^- 2Cl^-(aq)
1.36

Question

What is one of the major products in the electrolysis of a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution?
Reduction Half-Reaction
E° (V)
Na⁺(aq) + e^-

What is one of the major products in the electrolysis of a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution? Reduction Half-Reaction E° (V) Na<sup>+</sup>(aq) + e<sup>-</sup> Na(s) -2.71 Mg<sup>2+</sup>(aq) + 2e<sup>-</sup> Mg(s) -2.37 2H<sub>2</sub>O(l) + 2e<sup>-</sup> H<sub>2</sub>(g) + 2OH<sup>-</sup>(aq) -0.83 O<sub>2</sub>(g) + 4H<sup>+</sup>(aq) + 4e<sup>-</sup> 2H<sub>2</sub>O(l) 1.23 Cl<sub>2</sub>(g) + 2e<sup>-</sup> 2Cl<sup>-</sup>(aq) 1.36 A) Mg B) O<sub>2</sub> C) H<sub>2</sub>O D) Na E) Cl<sub>2</sub>

Na(s) -2.71
Mg²⁺(aq) + 2e^-

Mg(s) -2.37
2H₂O(l) + 2e^-

H₂(g) + 2OH^-(aq) -0.83
O₂(g) + 4H⁺(aq) + 4e^-

2H₂O(l) 1.23
Cl₂(g) + 2e^-

2Cl^-(aq)
1.36

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reduction half-reaction for Cl2 to form 2Cl- has the highest E° value of 1.36 V, indicating that it is the most favorable reduction reaction. Therefore, one of the major products of the electrolysis of a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution is Cl2 gas.

What Is One of the Major Products in the Electrolysis