Electrolytic cell electrons from the cathode and deposits on the cathode as sodium metal. NaCl dissolved in water can also be electrolyzed. The anode oxidizes chloride ions (Cl), and Cl gas is produced. However, at the cathode, instead of sodium ions being reduced to sodium metal, water molecules are reduced to hydroxide ions (OH) and hydrogen gas (H). The overall result of the electrolysis is the production of chlorine gas and aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Commercially, electrolytic cells are used in electrorefining and electrowinning of several non-ferrous metals. Almost all high-purity aluminium, copper, zinc and lead is produced industrially in electrolytic
Electrochemical cell more positive oxidation state the more potential this reaction will provide. Likewise, in the reduction reaction, the closer the equilibrium lies to the ion/atom with the more "negative" oxidation state the higher the potential. The cell potential can be predicted through the use of electrode potentials (the voltages of each half-cell). These half-cell potentials are defined relative to the assignment of 0 volts to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE). (See table of standard electrode potentials). The difference in voltage between electrode potentials gives a prediction for the potential measured. When calculating the difference in voltage, one must first rewrite the