Question

Dihydrogen is obtained as a byproduct in the manufacture of sodium hydroxide and chlorine by the electrolysis of brine solution. During electrolysis, the reaction that take place are:

Answer 1

When saturated brine is passed into the electrolytic chamber, the following reactions take place.

At anode, $2C{l}^{-}⟶C{l}_2+2e^{-}$

At cathode, $2H_{2}O+2e^{-}⟶H_2+2O{H}^{-}$

$2NaCl+2H_{2}O⟶C{l}_2+H_2+2NaOH$ (Overall reaction)