[Kira]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could explain to me a couple of things:

1. Why do SO4- ions never get discharged, ever, in electrolysis? I don't really want explanations from, for instance, its relative E nought value etc, I just really want to know WHY. Also, when it comes to selective discharge of ions in electrolysis, how does this work? I mean logically, all negative ions should be attracted to the positive terminal and vice-versa for the positive ions, so why does only one species get discharged at each terminal?

2. My next question pertains to when an electrolytic cell actually STOPS (assuming the power supply doesn't stop/run out). So say I have a solution of NaCl, is it possible for me to keep running the cell until all of the Cl and H+ has been discharged, or does the cell stop working at some point in time? Also, if it is possible for all the Cl- and H+ to be discharged, can the cell then even continue to keep running until all the OH- and Na+ is then discharged as well? (since only these 2 species are left)

I hope I'm understandable :/

[Borek]

Why do SO4- ions never get discharged, ever, in electrolysis?

They don't?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peroxydisulfuric_acid