During the electrolysis of aqueous
sodium chloride solution, the products are NaOH, Cl2 and H2 In this
case besides Na+ and Cl– ions we also have H+ and OH– ions along with
the solvent molecules, H2O At the cathode there is competition between the following reduction
reactions:
Na+ (aq) + e– ® Na (s)
(
)
o
Ecell
 = – 2 71 V
H+ (aq) + e– ® ½ H2 (g)
(
)
o
Ecell
 = 0