Explain the electrolysis of water with the help of a well labelled diagram also write the chemical reaction taking places at the electrodes.
- Electrolysis of water:
Electrolysis means using electric current to make a chemical reaction possible which is otherwise do not occur. Electrolysis of water means passing electric current through water to decompose it into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.
- Electrodes:
Cathode - Graphite rod
Anode - Graphite rod
Hydrogen and oxygen gases are collected at cathode and anode respectively.
- Reaction:
The reaction that takes place during the process can be shown as:-
2H2O → 2H2 +O2
At cathode:- Reduction
2 H+ (aq) +2e- → H2
At anode:- Oxidation
OH- (aq) → OH + e-
4 OH → 2H2O + O2
Diagram: