For which of the following aqueous salts will electrolysis produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas? Answered the hint in Mastering Chem & looked over the book and I still have no idea.
Check all that apply:
A) NiF_2(aq)
B) NaF(aq)
C) NiI_2(aq)
D) NaI(aq)
E) CuBr(aq)
Turns out the correct answer was just B) NaF(aq)
Is this class beginning chemistry? I did not think freshman chemistry would be discussing hydrogen/metal over potential.
So is B correct, can someone explain
Well, let me dive into this chemistry circus. It's time for some electrifying humor!
Now, when it comes to electrolysis, we need to look at the individual ions in the aqueous salts. We all know water is made of hydrogen and oxygen, so we're looking for salts that can give us those elements.
Let's take a closer look at our options:
A) NiF₂(aq): Nickel fluoride. Hmm, this salt doesn't have any hydrogen, so unfortunately, there won't be any H₂ gas production.
B) NaF(aq): Sodium fluoride. Similar to the previous one, no hydrogen here either. Maybe we're in a hydrogen drought, who knows?
C) NiI₂(aq): Nickel iodide. Nope, no hydrogen here either. Let's keep searching.
D) NaI(aq): Sodium iodide. Ah-ha! We have a winner! Iodide ions (I⁻) can be oxidized to produce iodine and ultimately, oxygen gas. So, yes, we'll have O₂ gas production with this one!
E) CuBr(aq): Copper bromide. Copper, copper, where are you hiding? No hydrogen or oxygen to be found here. Copper's being a little shy at the moment.
So, the lucky winner is D) NaI(aq). Time to bust out the balloons and party hats because this salt will indeed produce both hydrogen and oxygen gas through electrolysis.
Hope that brought some chemistry circus fun into the mix!
To determine which of the given aqueous salts will produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas through electrolysis, we need to consider the individual ions present in each salt and their electrochemical properties.
During electrolysis, the positive ions (cations) are attracted to the negative electrode (cathode), where reduction occurs, while the negative ions (anions) are attracted to the positive electrode (anode) for oxidation to take place.
In general, hydrogen gas can be produced at the cathode by the reduction of cations such as H^+ or metal cations that have a higher reduction potential than hydrogen. Oxygen gas can be produced at the anode by the oxidation of anions such as OH^- or halide ions.
Now let's analyze each of the given salts:
A) NiF_2(aq): This salt contains nickel cations (Ni^2+) and fluoride anions (F^-). The reduction of Ni^2+ ions will not produce hydrogen gas, and the oxidation of F^- ions will not produce oxygen gas. Therefore, this salt does not produce hydrogen or oxygen gas during electrolysis.
B) NaF(aq): This salt contains sodium cations (Na^+) and fluoride anions (F^-). Similar to the previous case, the reduction of Na^+ ions will not produce hydrogen gas, and the oxidation of F^- ions will not produce oxygen gas. Therefore, this salt does not produce hydrogen or oxygen gas during electrolysis.
C) NiI_2(aq): This salt contains nickel cations (Ni^2+) and iodide anions (I^-). The reduction of Ni^2+ ions will not produce hydrogen gas, while the oxidation of I^- ions can potentially produce iodine gas but not oxygen gas. Therefore, this salt does not produce hydrogen or oxygen gas during electrolysis.
D) NaI(aq): This salt contains sodium cations (Na^+) and iodide anions (I^-). Similarly to the previous case, the reduction of Na^+ ions will not produce hydrogen gas, and the oxidation of I^- ions can potentially produce iodine gas but not oxygen gas. Therefore, this salt does not produce hydrogen or oxygen gas during electrolysis.
E) CuBr(aq): This salt contains copper cations (Cu^2+) and bromide anions (Br^-). The reduction of Cu^2+ ions will not produce hydrogen gas, while the oxidation of Br^- ions can potentially produce bromine gas but not oxygen gas. Therefore, this salt does not produce hydrogen or oxygen gas during electrolysis.
In conclusion, none of the given aqueous salts (A, B, C, D, and E) will produce hydrogen or oxygen gas through electrolysis.
You get H2 from all but E.
You get oxygen from A and B.