- #1
Jack Litmus
- 1
- 0
Hi everyone, I was just wondering how I would choose which species in an electrolytic cell to use as the cathode and which to use as the anode.
For example, for aqueous aluminum chloride (inert electrodes), H2O (-0.83V) and H2O (+1.23V) will be used as the anode and cathode for the half reactions, but while I think I understand why H2O (-0.83V) is chosen has the anode over Al (everything @ Al and below will not be deposited or something if water is present), I don't understand why H2O(+1.23V) is chosen over Cl2 (+1.36) as the cathode.
Would someone please explain how to pick the anode and cathode species? Thank you!
For example, for aqueous aluminum chloride (inert electrodes), H2O (-0.83V) and H2O (+1.23V) will be used as the anode and cathode for the half reactions, but while I think I understand why H2O (-0.83V) is chosen has the anode over Al (everything @ Al and below will not be deposited or something if water is present), I don't understand why H2O(+1.23V) is chosen over Cl2 (+1.36) as the cathode.
Would someone please explain how to pick the anode and cathode species? Thank you!