Question

Differentiate between the following:

Electrolytic decomposition and photochemical decomposition.

Answer 1

Electrolytic decomposition and photochemical decomposition:

• Electrolytic decomposition : “A chemical reaction which takes place with absorption of electrical energy”
  \[\ce{\underset{\text{collected at}}{2H2O}->[electric][current]\underset{\text{cathode}}{2H2} + \underset{\text{anode}}{O2}}\]
• Photochemical decomposition: “A chemical reaction which takes place with the absorption of light energy”
  \[\ce{H2 + Cl2->[sunlight]2HCl}\]