Metallic sodium is extracted by the electrolysis of brine (eq. NaCl) .After electrolysis the electrolytic solution becomes basic in nature.Write the possible electrode reactions.

Explanation

Metallic sodium is not extracted by the electrolysis of brine because hydrogen has a lower discharge potential than sodium. If it forms is aqueous solution, it would immediately react with water to produce NaOH.
At cathode : `2H^(+) + 2e^(-) hArr H_(2(g))`
At anode : `2Cl_((eq))^(-) + 2e^(-) rarr Cl_(2(g))`
The negative cathode attracts the `Na^(+)` (from sodium chloride) and `H^(+)` ions (from water). Only the hydrogen ions are discharged at the cathode. The more reactive a metal, the less readily its ion is reduced in the electrode surface. Nothing happens to sodium ion.