During electrolysis of aqeous solution of NaCl, there are two type of anions are present Cl- and –OH, Cl- is discharged first than –OH,although it is present below Cl- in electrochemical series. Give reason.
Ans: During this electrolysis process Chloride ions come from NaCl, which is a strong electrolyte and ionize to large extent so concentration of chloride ions in solution will be high. Whereas hydroxyl ions come from water that is weak electrolyte, so their concentration in solution will be very low as compared to chloride ions. That’s why due to large concentration of chloride ions it is first discharged despite of its presence above than hydroxyl in electrochemical series.