Here's a breakdown of the process:
* Electrolysis: This is the process of using electricity to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. In this case, we're splitting water molecules (H2O) into their constituent elements.
* Cathode: The negatively charged electrode where reduction occurs. Here, water molecules gain electrons and are reduced to hydrogen gas:
2H2O + 2e- → H2 + 2OH-
* Anode: The positively charged electrode where oxidation occurs. Here, water molecules lose electrons and are oxidized to oxygen gas:
2H2O → O2 + 4H+ + 4e-
The presence of KNO3 plays a key role:
* Electrolyte: KNO3 acts as an electrolyte, allowing the flow of current through the solution. Without it, the water would have very low conductivity and the electrolysis would be inefficient.
* No Side Reactions: The low concentration of KNO3 ensures that the primary reaction is the electrolysis of water. The nitrate ions (NO3-) from KNO3 are not involved in the reaction and remain in the solution.
Therefore, the main products of the electrolysis are hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The KNO3 remains dissolved in the water, although its concentration might slightly decrease due to the water decomposition.
