When a current is passed through a sulfuric acid solution, water is electrolyzed

Question

When a current is passed through a sulfuric acid solution, water is electrolyzed. The half reactions that occur are: Use the diagram below to: indicate which half-reaction occurs at each electrode: show the dielectric flow in the wires connects to the battery indicate the +/- poles of the batten and electrodes: d) indicate the gas present at each electrode. The container is filled with a 0.10 M H_2SO_4 of the ions from the H_2 SO_4 completes the electrical circuit, Indicate the ions formed from the H_2SO_4 and the direction of their movement in the solution. f Write the overall cell reaction.

Explanation / Answer

Half cell reactions are following:

At Cathode: this is reduction of hydrogen in which oxidation number change from +1 to 0

2H+ (aq) + 2e- --- > H2 (g) ----1

At Anode : this is the oxidation of oxygen in which oxidation number of O change from -2 to 0.

2H2O (l) ----- > O2 (g ) + 4H + (aq) + 4e- ----2

To write overall reaction multiply eq   1 by 2 and then add with eq 2 as follows:

4H+ (aq) + 4e- --- > 2H2 (g)

2H2O (l) ----- > O2 (g ) + 4H + (aq) + 4e-

          2H2O (l) ----- > O2 (g ) +2H2 (g)

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