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| 1. |
Sodium & potassium can not be prepared by electrolysis of their aqueous solutions. Why? |
| Answer» Potassium metal reacts with water by displacing the hydrogen, because it is significantly more reactive. During electrolysis, In aqueous solution the hydrogen from the water will always be liberated in preference to metallic potassium. In the case of sodium, It is not possible to isolate sodium by electrolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium salts because hydrogen ions are more easily reduced than are sodium ions; as a result, hydrogen gas forms at the cathode instead of the desired sodium metal. | |