Question

What happens during electrolysis?

Answer 1

Electrolysis

• It is a process that leads to chemical change when an electric current is passed through an electrolyte.
• During the electrolysis process, the negatively charged ions lose the electrons and undergo oxidation while the positively charged ions gain the electrons and undergo the reduction process.

Example: During electrolysis of sodium chloride $\left(\mathrm{NaCl}\right)$.

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{At}\mathrm{anode}:2{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)-2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to {\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{At}\mathrm{cathode}:2{\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to 2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \end{gathered}$$