The negative terminal of a battery has an excess of electrons. If a wire connected to the negative terminal of a battery is placed in an acidic solution and bubbles were produced at the wire. Would the observed bubbles be consistent with oxidizing water to O2 or reducing H+ to H2?

Answer 1

Technically there won't be any bubbles UNLESS you connect the + side of the battery (too) in order to make a complete circuit. But if you do that the reaction at the - electrode is
2H^+ + 2e ==> H2(g)

Answer 2

thank you! thank you!