Electrolysis of Water
When electrolysis is performed using a dilute aqueous NaOH solution as an electrolyte, hydrogen gas is generated at the cathode (-), and oxygen gas is generated at the anode (+). The reaction equation is as follows.
(＋)pole: 2OH- → H2O ＋ 1/2 O2 ＋ 2e
(－)pole: 2H2O ＋ 2e → H2 ＋ 2OH-