Answer to Question #253781 in General Chemistry for mohamed

Question

compare the products of molten sodium withdrawals from electrolysis of sodium chloride solution

Answer 1

Sodium metal and chlorine gas can be obtained with the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride.

Electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride yields hydrogen and chlorine, with aqueous sodium hydroxide remaining in solution.

The reason for the difference is that the reduction of Na+ (E° = –2.7 v) is energetically more difficult than the reduction of water (–1.23 v).