27. When aqueous sodium chloride () is electrolyzed using inert Platinum electrodes, what are the pr — Electrochemistry Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In aqueous NaCl, water is preferentially reduced over $Na^+$ at the cathode due to a higher reduction potential, yielding $H_2$. At the anode, although water oxidation to $O_2$ is thermodynamically favoured, the high kinetic overvoltage of $O_2$ evolution causes $Cl^-$ to be oxidized to $Cl_2$ instead.