CBSE Class 10 Answered

Metal M is sodium,Na.Electrolysis mehod is used for resuction of molten metal chloride by process of electrolysis.The process has been explained below:

The reactions at each electrode are called half equations.
The half equations are written so that the same number of electrons
occur in each equation.

2Na⁺  +  2e^-       2Na (sodium metal at the (-)cathode).
2Cl^-  -  2e^-       Cl₂ (chlorine gas at the (+)anode).

Sodium ions gain electrons (reduction) to form sodium atoms.
Chloride ions lose electrons (oxidation) to form chlorine atoms.
The chlorine atoms combine to form molecules of chlorine gas.

The overall reaction is

2Na⁺Cl^-_(l)           2Na_(s)  +   Cl_2(g)