Question
What are the products formed during the electrolysis of molten LiCl?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
During the electrolysis of molten lithium chloride (LiCl), the following products are formed at the electrodes:
1. **At the Cathode (negative electrode)**: Lithium metal (Li) is produced. At the cathode, Li^+ ions gain electrons (reduction) to form lithium metal:
\[
\text{Li}^+ + e^- \rightarrow \text{Li (s)}
\]
2. **At the Anode (positive electrode)**: Chlorine gas (Clâ‚‚) is produced. At the anode, Cl^- ions lose electrons (oxidation) to form chlorine gas:
\[
2\text{Cl}^- - 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cl}_2 (g)
\]
Thus, the overall products of electrolysis of molten LiCl are lithium metal at the cathode and chlorine gas at the anode.
1. **At the Cathode (negative electrode)**: Lithium metal (Li) is produced. At the cathode, Li^+ ions gain electrons (reduction) to form lithium metal:
\[
\text{Li}^+ + e^- \rightarrow \text{Li (s)}
\]
2. **At the Anode (positive electrode)**: Chlorine gas (Clâ‚‚) is produced. At the anode, Cl^- ions lose electrons (oxidation) to form chlorine gas:
\[
2\text{Cl}^- - 2e^- \rightarrow \text{Cl}_2 (g)
\]
Thus, the overall products of electrolysis of molten LiCl are lithium metal at the cathode and chlorine gas at the anode.