i understand the principles of electrolysis of salts in aqueous solutions, but there are two points on which i am unsure.

• firstly, at the positive electrode, how can you work out which ions will preferentially donate electrons to it?

• also, if the formation of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas occurs at the negative electrode, can hydride ions and oxygen gas be formed instead?

• if so what decides which ions are formed?

• i would also like to know what happens to the ions formed at the negative electrode, do they react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode or would they travel over to and react with the positive electrode?

(for the last question, i believe the latter to be true because if the anions produced at the negative electrode react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode, the cations that are attracted to the electrode would not be available to accept electrons and hence the current would become increasingly restricted until it stopped all together, could someone confirm or negate this reasoning?)

I understand the principles of electrolysis of salts in aqueous solutions, but there are two points on which i am unsure.

• At the positive electrode, how can you work out which ions will preferentially donate electrons?

• If the formation of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas occurs at the negative electrode, can hydrogen ions and oxygen gas be formed instead?

• If so, what decides which ions are formed?

• What happens to the ions formed at the negative electrode? Do they react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode or do they travel to and react with the positive electrode?

For the last question, I believe the latter would be true because if the anions produced at the negative electrode react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode, the cations that are attracted to the electrode would not be available to accept electrons and hence the current would become increasingly restricted until it stops all together. Could someone negate or confirm this reasoning?

I understand the principles of electrolysis of salts in aqueous solutions, but there are two points on which I am unsure. Firstly, at the positive electrode, how can you work out which ions will preferentially donate electrons to it?

Also, if the formation of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas occurs at the negative electrode, can hydride ions and oxygen gas be formed instead? If so what decides which ions are formed?

I would also like to know what happens to the ions formed at the negative electrode, do they react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode or would they travel over to and react with the positive electrode?

For the last question, I believe the latter to be true because if the anions produced at the negative electrode react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode, the cations that are attracted to the electrode would not be available to accept electrons and hence the current would become increasingly restricted until it stopped all together. Could someone confirm or dispute this reasoning?

i understand the principles of electrolysis of salts in aqueous solutions, but there are two points on which i am unsure.

• firstly, at the positive electrode, how can you work out which ions will preferentially donate electrons to it?

• also, if the formation of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas occurs at the negative electrode, can hydride ions and oxygen gas be formed instead?

• if so what decides which ions are formed?

• i would also like to know what happens to the ions formed at the negative electrode, do they react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode or would they travel over to and react with the positive electrode?

(for the last question, i believe the latter to be true because if the anions produced at the negative electrode react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode, the cations that are attracted to the electrode would not be available to accept electrons and hence the current would become increasingly restricted until it stopped all together, could someone confirm or negate this reasoning?)

i understand the principles of electrolysis of salts in aqueous solutions, but there are two points on which i am unsure. firstly, at the positive electrode, how can you work out which ions will preferentially donate electrons to it? also, if the formation of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas occurs at the negative electrode, can hydride ions and oxygen gas be formed instead? if so what decides which ions are formed? i would also like to know what happens to the ions formed at the negative electrode, do they react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode or would they travel over to and react with the positive electrode? (for the last question, i believe the latter to be true because if the anions produced at the negative electrode react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode, the cations that are attracted to the electrode would not be available to accept electrons and hence the current would become increasingly restricted until it stopped all together, could someone confirm or negate this reasoning?)

I understand the principles of electrolysis of salts in aqueous solutions, but there are two points on which I am unsure. Firstly, at the positive electrode, how can you work out which ions will preferentially donate electrons to it?

Also, if the formation of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas occurs at the negative electrode, can hydride ions and oxygen gas be formed instead? If so what decides which ions are formed?

I would also like to know what happens to the ions formed at the negative electrode, do they react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode or would they travel over to and react with the positive electrode?

For the last question, I believe the latter to be true because if the anions produced at the negative electrode react with the cations that are attracted to the electrode, the cations that are attracted to the electrode would not be available to accept electrons and hence the current would become increasingly restricted until it stopped all together. Could someone confirm or dispute this reasoning?