On electrolysis of an aqueous solution NaCl, why `H_(2)` and not Na is liberated at the cathode?

Explanation

To understand why hydrogen gas (H₂) is liberated at the cathode during the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) instead of sodium metal (Na), we can break down the explanation into several steps:

### Step 1: Understanding Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a process that uses electrical energy to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. In the case of an aqueous NaCl solution, the electrolysis involves the movement of ions towards the electrodes.

### Step 2: Ionization of NaCl in Water
When NaCl is dissolved in water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻):
\[ \text{NaCl} \rightarrow \text{Na}^+ + \text{Cl}^- \]
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