Does sodium ion effect electrolysis of water?

[kevin_tee]

Does sodium ion effect electrolysis of water? Especially in sodium polyacrylate, which release sodium ion when absorbs water. In other words, if I try to do electrolysis of water in hydrated sodium polyacrylate will it be successful.(Produce hydrogen and ignoring bubble trap inside the gel)

If I understand correctly, Na+ have much less standard electrode potential than H+ so sodium shouldn't be reduce. Meaning electrolysis will produce hydrogen and oxygen regularly, am I right?

Thanks very much

 

[adjacent]

Yes you are right.In the reactivity series,Na is more
reactive than H.So H⁺ ions gets discharged more easily.

 

[Borek]

You are right about products being oxygen and hydrogen, but presence of any other ions (even if they don't react on electrodes) can't be ignored. They change water conductivity (the more the ions, the higher the conductivity), so you need lower voltage to overcome iR loses. That in turn means presence of spectator ions speeds up the electrolysis.

 

[kevin_tee]

Thank for reply so Na+ ion won't be reduce. How about anion polyacrylate chain, will it be oxidize? Any body have an idea?

 

[Borek]

It is immobilized, so it doesn't go to electrode. If it were in a direct contact than who knows what would happen.

I believe at least some carboxylic acids can be oxidized to CO₂ during electrolysis, but I am not sure.

 

[kevin_tee]

Thanks to all replies. This help me very much in my science national competition. I will report my finding when I am ready. I research about Conversation of ultrasonic vibration energy into hydrogen by electrolysis of water using piezoelectric property of ZnO in aqueous solution. Thanks.

 

[adjacent]

Thanks to all replies. This help me very much in my science national competition. I will report my finding when I am ready. I research about Conversation of ultrasonic vibration energy into hydrogen by electrolysis of water using piezoelectric property of ZnO. Thanks.

Good luck