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GCSE Chemical Changes Past Paper

A student dissolves some potassium chloride in water. The student tried to electrolyse the potassium chloride solution to produce potassium. The student expected to see potassium metal at the negative electrode, but saw bubbles of gas.
Name the gas produced at the negative electrode.
Explain why this gas was produced at the negative electrode and why potassium wasn't.
Please help!!
Reply 1
When a solution is electrolysed, hydrogen and oxygen may be produced at the electrodes. These come from the ions in the water making up the solution. In this case the gas formed at the cathode is hydrogen.
If the metal in the substance being electrolysed is more reactive than Hydrogen then Hydrogen is formed. The metal in this case is Potasium and it's highest in the reactivity series.
Original post by Jazzmina
When a solution is electrolysed, hydrogen and oxygen may be produced at the electrodes. These come from the ions in the water making up the solution. In this case the gas formed at the cathode is hydrogen.
If the metal in the substance being electrolysed is more reactive than Hydrogen then Hydrogen is formed. The metal in this case is Potasium and it's highest in the reactivity series.
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