Which of the following will produce oxygen and hydrogen during its electrolysis using platinum electrode?
Answer Details
Out of the given options, dilute sodium chloride solution is the one that will produce oxygen and hydrogen during its electrolysis using platinum electrodes.
During electrolysis, the ions present in the solution are attracted to the electrodes and undergo reduction or oxidation, depending on their charge. In the case of dilute sodium chloride solution, it contains Na+ and Cl- ions. At the cathode (negative electrode), the Na+ ions are attracted and undergo reduction to form sodium atoms and hydrogen gas:
2Na+ + 2e- → 2Na
2H+ + 2e- → H2(g)
At the anode (positive electrode), the Cl- ions are attracted and undergo oxidation to form chlorine gas and release oxygen gas:
2Cl- → Cl2(g) + 2e-
2H2O → O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e-
Since platinum electrodes are inert, they do not participate in the chemical reactions and do not affect the electrolysis process.