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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: lordofdarkness on May 28, 2005, 12:30:10 AM

Title: Electrolysis of Sodium Hydroxide
Post by: lordofdarkness on May 28, 2005, 12:30:10 AM

Hello
What are the products of the electrolysis of NAOH???
OH doesnt exist as a gas though so i dont know

Title: Re:Electrolysis of Sodium Hydroxide
Post by: Mr. Pink on May 28, 2005, 01:45:14 AM

Metallic sodium and O2 on one end, H on the other. i think.

Title: Re:Electrolysis of Sodium Hydroxide
Post by: xiankai on May 28, 2005, 05:20:58 AM

hydrogen is displaced instead of sodium, and the net equation at the anode (where OH- is oxidised) is:

4OH- --> 2H2O + O2 +4e-

thx for reminding about those electrons :S

Title: Re:Electrolysis of Sodium Hydroxide
Post by: Borek on May 28, 2005, 05:36:14 AM

You are right, but add electrons to balance charge.