Question

The products of electrolysis of aqueous solution of mgso4 on cathode and anode respectively are

Answer 1

Electrolysis of mixed molten salts

– The cation with higher

Eo value (the stronger

oxidizing agent) is reduced at the cathode

– The anion with lower

Eo value (the stronger

reducing agent) is oxidized at the anode

Note:

Eo values in appendix D are for aqueous ions

and can be used only as approximate guidance.

Instead, EN values can be used to estimate the

stronger oxidizing and reducing agents.

Example: Predict the products of the electrolysis

of a molten mixture of NaCl and AlF3

→ Possible cathode half-reactions (reduction)

1) Reduction of Na

+ and 2) Reduction of Al3+