What is the product of the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) using inert electrodes?

The product of the electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) using inert electrodes is Hydrogen gas at the cathode and chlorine gas at the anode.

During electrolysis, an electric current is passed through the sodium chloride solution. The solution dissociates into its ions: Na+ (sodium ion) and Cl- (chloride ion).

At the cathode (negative electrode), the positively charged sodium ions are attracted to the electrode. Since sodium is less reactive than hydrogen, it does not get discharged. Instead, hydrogen ions (H+) from the water in the solution are discharged, forming hydrogen gas (H2).

At the anode (positive electrode), the negatively charged chloride ions are attracted to the electrode. Chlorine ions (Cl-) are discharged and form chlorine gas (Cl2).

Therefore, the overall reaction can be summarized as follows:

2H2O + 2NaCl -> 2NaOH + H2 + Cl2