In molten ionic compounds, the products formed at the cathode are negative with the anode

having the positive ions. An example is lead bromide. After going through electrolysis, the lead will
be found at the cathode with the bromide in the anode.

Predicting the aqueous compounds is more difficult; however, as

you must go through calculations and understand the reactivity
series in order to determine what the possible products would be
for the electrolysis. First you must determine what the possible
elements at the cathode and anode are. This also includes H2O as
it is not molten rather aqueous. You can determine which
elements at the cathode would react through the reactivity series.
Although, if there are other elements and hydrogen, hydrogen will
always react unless it is against copper, silver and gold.

After determining the elements at the cathode, you determine the

elements at the anode to make a half reaction. For a concentrated
solution, Cl, Br, I will always react. In a dilute solution, if it has Cl,
Br, I or any other ion, than OH will always react.

Using an example to write the half reaction;

A concentrated aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid
HCl. H2O.

H^+ Cl^-
H^+ OH^-

Looking at the reactivity series and using PANIC (Positive at the anode, Negative at the cathode) ,
at the cathode the most reactive element that is positive is hydrogen (both are hydrogen but either
way). At the Anode, considering that this is concentrated, the element that will be reacting is
chlorine. Using “AN OX chases a RED CAT” (oxidation at anode; reduction at cathode), the
oxidation half reaction is:

Cl^- ——> Cl + e^-

Reduction is:

H^+ + e^- ——> H

The equations do not have to be balanced. Ignoring the electrons, we determine that the total
reaction equation is:

Cl^- + H^+ ——> Cl + H