Question

Give reason for the following:
The ratio of hydrogen and oxygen formed at the cathode and anode is $2:1$ by volume.

Answer 1

As per electrolytic reactions, $4H^{+1}$ are needed at the cathode and $4O{H}^{-}$ at the anode, and two molecules of water are produced at the anode. Hence for every two molecules of water, two molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen are liberated at the cathode and anode respectively.

$2H_{2}O\underset{Current}{\overset{H_{2}S{O}_4}{\to }}2H_2\left[cathode\right]+O_2\left[anode\right]$