Electrolysis of aqueous solution of NaCl: Aqueous NaCl consists of the following ions

in solution:

Thus aqueous solution of NaCl consists of

 anions.

On passing electricity  ions deposit at the cathode   in preference and produce   

gas. Thus  molecules reduce at cathode as follows:

On the other hand   ions deposit at the anode in preference and produce   gas as:

 (Primary change)

 (Secondary change)

Thus overall reaction taking place on electrolysis of aqueous solution of NaCl may be
given as:

I.e.

 ions remain in the solution and the solution on evaporation gives crystals
of NaOH.

 Due to over voltage concept in place of   here   is liberated at anode, i.e., for
 additional voltage is needed here.

3. Electrolysis of aqueous solution of   using Pt electrodes (Inert

electrodes): Aqueous   consists following ions:

 
On passing electricity   ions deposit at the cathode in preference due to higher
electrode potential than ion.

I.e.

On the other hand OH‘ ions deposit at the anode in preference and produce   gas.

 (At anode)

Thus overall reaction taking place on electrolysis of aqueous solution of   using Pt-
electrodes may be given as:

4. Electrolysis of aqueous solution of   using Cu electrodes: Thus ionisation

of CuSO4 may be given as:

It is the concept of electroplating that Cu-metal is liberated at cathode. Here blue colour
of the solution gets faded due to electrolysis.

On passing electricity  ions deposit at the cathode as follows.

 (At cathode)

On the other hand, anode itself undergoes loss of electrons to form   ions which go
into the solution.

Thus the net concentration of   ions remains the same.

Here Cu is transferred from the anode to cathode so the solution concentration does not
change.

 This concept develops the concept of refining used for purification of metals.

5.       Electrolysis of  using inert electrodes:

At anode 

At anode 

Net reaction