Chemistry 0620 · IGCSE · Electrolysis

Electrolysis — practice question

A concentrated aqueous magnesium bromide solution is electrolysed with carbon electrodes. Which equations show the reactions taking place at each electrode?

  • Apositive: $2\text{Br}^-\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{Br}_2\text{(aq)} + 2e^-;\ \text{negative: } 2\text{H}^+\text{(aq)} + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{(g)}$
  • Bpositive: $2\text{H}^+\text{(aq)} + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{(g)};\ \text{negative: } 2\text{O}^{2-}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{O}_2\text{(aq)} + 4e^-$
  • Cpositive: $\text{Mg}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Mg(s)};\ \text{negative: } 2\text{Br}^-\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{Br}_2\text{(aq)} + 2e^-$
  • Dpositive: $2\text{O}^{2-}\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{O}_2\text{(aq)} + 4e^-;\ \text{negative: } \text{Mg}^{2+}\text{(aq)} + 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Mg(s)}$

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