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During electrolysis of **aqueous** NaCl (brine), the products are:
AH₂ at cathode, Cl₂ at anode, NaOH in solution
BNa, Cl₂, H₂
CNaH, O₂, water
DNa at cathode, O₂ at anode
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. H₂ at cathode, Cl₂ at anode, NaOH in solution
Aqueous NaCl (chlor-alkali): water reduces in preference to Na⁺ (E°(H₂O) > E°(Na⁺) so H₂ at cathode + OH⁻ formed → NaOH). At anode Cl⁻ oxidises in preference to water due to **overpotential on oxygen** → Cl₂ gas.
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