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OBJECTIVES

a) to identify the reactions occurring at the anode and cathode during the electrolysis of
various aqueous salt solutions
b) to observe the electrolysis of water and the gases liberated at the electrodes.
c) to study the suitable electrode and aqueous solution for water splitting process.

INTRODUCTION

Electrolysis is the process by which ionic substances are broken into simpler substances when an
electric current is passed through them. It can bring about chemical changes in which asubstances
loses or gains an electron. Electrolysis is the process of electrical energy is used tocause a
nonspontaneous chemical reaction to occur. The electrolytic cells consist of powersupply such as
battery to provide energy to transfer electrons from anode to cathode. Thus,these cells required an
energy to push the reaction in the reverse or opposite direction.During electrolysis, ions with a
positive electrical charge move toward the cathode(accept electron) meanwhile ions with a
negative charge move toward the anode (donateelectrons). This transfer of electrons causes
chemical changes to take place at each electrode.

In electrolysis cell, reduction occurs at cathode while oxidation occurs at anode. In Molten
SodiumChloride, the cations are Na+and the anions are Cl-ion.

This process is used to produce chlorine gas.However, aqueous sodium chloride solution contains
water which indicates severalspecies that cloud be oxidized and reduced. The main purpose of this
experiment is to knowwhich ions will oxidize or reduce with the present of water based on it
electrochemicalnegativity and also others factor such as application of over voltage.