Question

In electrolysis of sodium hydroxide solution:
A.Hydrogen is discharged at cathode
B.Hydrogen is discharged at anode
C.Sodium is liberated at anode
D.No hydrogen is liberated

Answer 1

Electrolysis can be understood as a process which involves passing sufficient current through a mixture of reactants, to drive an otherwise non – spontaneous reaction. The current applied acts as an external source of energy to drive the reaction.

Complete Step-by-Step Answer:

Before we move forward with the solution of the given question, let us first understand some important basic concepts.
Electrolysis involves an anode (which acts as the positive terminal) and a cathode (which acts as the negative terminal). This method is widely used for separation of elements in chemically inert compounds.
In the given question, sodium hydroxide or caustic soda is made to undergo electrolysis. The chemical formula of sodium hydroxide is NaOH. This compound contains two ions, viz. a positive sodium ion and a negative hydroxyl ion. These ions can be represented as: $N{a^ + }$ and $O{H^ - }$ . As discussed above, cathode is the negative electrode while the anode is the positive electrode. Hence, the separation of NaOH takes place accordingly. $N{a^ + }$ gets liberated at cathode while $O{H^ - }$ gets liberated at anode. Hence, no hydrogen is liberated in this reaction.

Hence, Option D is the correct option

Note: Electrolysis is one of the most employed processes while trying to separate elements from naturally occurring substances like ores, with the aid of an electrolytic cell. The versatility of electrolysis is prevalent due to the variation of energy input because the values of the current and voltage can be varied.