Page "Electrolytic cell" Paragraph 11

NaCl dissolved in water can also be electrolyzed.

The anode oxidizes chloride ions ( Cl ), and Cl < sub > 2 </ sub > gas is produced.

However, at the cathode, instead of sodium ions being reduced to sodium metal, water molecules are reduced to hydroxide ions ( OH ) and hydrogen gas ( H < sub > 2 </ sub >).

The overall result of the electrolysis is the production of chlorine gas and aqueous sodium hydroxide ( NaOH ) solution.