In the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of Na 2 SO 4 , what reactions occur a
ID: 492531 • Letter: I
Question
In the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of Na2SO4, what reactions occur at the anode and the cathode (assuming standard conditions)? (Use the lowest possible coefficients. Omit states-of-matter from your answer.)
(a) In the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of Na2SO what reactions occur at the anode and the cathode (assuming standard conditions)? (Use the lowest 4, possible coefficients. Omit states-of-matter from your answer.) s2082- 2 e 2 SO. 2.01 V O2 4 H+ 4 e 2 H20 1.23 V 0.83 V 2 H20 2 e H2 2 OH 2.71 V Na e Na anode reaction: Help chemPad Greek 208 2 e 2SO s 20 8 2- 2 en- 2SO 4 2- Your answer differs too much from the expected answer to provide useful feedback. cathode reaction: Help chemPad Greek Na e Na Na t en- Na Your answer differs too much from the expected answer to provide useful feedbackExplanation / Answer
The electrolysis of Na2SO4 solution gives O2 gas at the anode and H2 gas at the cathode.
Thus the reactions are as follows:
At the cathode,
2H2O + 2e- --- > H2 (g) + 2OH-
At the anode,
2H2O --à O2 (g) + 4H+ + 4e-