Question

Predict the products of electrolysis of a dilute aqueous solution of sulphuric acid using inert electrodes.

Answer 1

In dilute aqueous solution, sulfuric acid ionizes as:

\[\ce{H2SO4 -> 2H^{+}_{ (aq)} + SO^{2-}_{4 (aq)}}\]

Electrolysis takes place as:

At cathode: \[\ce{2H{^{+}_{(aq)}} + 2e- -> H2_{(g)}}\]

At anode: \[\ce{H2P_{(l)} -> 1/2 O2_{(g)} + 2H{^{+}_{(aq)}} + 2e-}\]