Final answer:
Chlorine gas is produced at the anode when a dilute solution of copper(II) chloride is electrolyzed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When electrolyzing a dilute solution of copper(II) chloride, the gas that is produced at the anode is chlorine gas (Cl₂). In an electrolytic cell, oxidation occurs at the anode. This process is similar to the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride where chlorine gas is also produced at the anode.
However, in the case of copper(II) chloride solution, the presence of water complicates the reactions, but Cl⁻ ions are still oxidized preferentially to chlorine gas. The related reactions for a similar process are as follows:
- Anode reaction: 2Cl⁻ - 2e⁻ → Cl₂(g)
It's important to note that the anode reaction produces chlorine gas and that the cathode reaction would typically involve the reduction of copper(II) ions to metallic copper or the reduction of water, depending on the specifics of the electrolyte and the electrodes used.