A potential difference of 2.0 V is impressed across a pairof inert electrodes (e.g., platinum) that are immersed in a 0.050 M aqueous KBr solution. What are the products that form at the anode and the cathode?
A potential difference of 2.0 V is impressed across a pairof inert electrodes (e.g., platinum) that are immersed in a 0.050 M aqueous KBr solution. What are the products that form at the anode and the cathode?
Electrolysis
It is the process of decomposition of an electrolyte by passing electricity through molten or aqueous solution.
On electrolysis, oxidation takes place at anode and reduction takes place at cathode.
The ion that has highest reduction potential undergo reduction and the ion that has least reduction potential undergo oxidation at anode.
In aqueous solution of KBr, the ions present are K+, Br-, H+ and OH-
Among them, reduction potential of K+ is higher than H+
Therefore K+ reduction takes place at the cathode.
Among Br- and OH- Br- , has the lowest reduction potential than OH-
Thus oxidation of Br- takes place at anode.
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