Question

How does the addition of sulfuric acid in the electrolysis of water produce a conducting solution? Explain

Answer 1

Electrolysis of water

• Pure water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ is not an electrolyte, thus it will not conduct electricity.
• In order to make it an electrolyte, a small amount of dilute sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ is added.
• The addition of sulfuric acid initiates the ionization of water. Due to an increase in the degree of ionization of water, the solution becomes conducting in nature.

Chemical Reaction:

• The chemical reactions that take place are given below.

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\rightleftharpoons 2{\mathrm{H}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{{\mathrm{SO}}_4}^{2-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right) \\ {\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{H}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right) \end{gathered}$$