Question

Draw the diagram of electrolysis of water.

Answer 1

Electrolysis is defined as the process by which ionic substances are decomposed into simpler substances when an electric current is passed through them.

Water electrolysis :

• Electrolysis of water is the chemical reaction in which the decomposition of hydrogen and oxygen gases is carried by passing an electric current.
• The electrolysis of water is mainly carried out to yield pure hydrogen and oxygen gases.
• It involves passing an electric current through the water which results in the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Half reactions in the electrolysis of pure water :

At cathode : $2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to {\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+2{\mathrm{OH}}^{-}$

At anode : $2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to {\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+4{\mathrm{H}}^{+}+4{\mathrm{e}}^{-}$

The net reaction of electrolysis of water is given as:

$2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$