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If I use concentrated acetic acid (glacial acetic acid($\ce{CH3COOH}$)) as an electrolyte. What ions are produced at the anode and cathode?

Can I get ethanol with it ($\ce{C2H6O}$)? If not, what would be the products?

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  • $\begingroup$ I´m sure you can tell what one product is. As for the other electrode, what is the primary product, when you have abstracted one electron? The second intermediate should then be equally obvious, if you know a bit about organic chemisty. And the third and final is then trivial. ;) $\endgroup$ – Karl Aug 10 '20 at 10:10
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    $\begingroup$ And btw., this is a well known named reaktion. Google? $\endgroup$ – Karl Aug 10 '20 at 10:12
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Upon electrolysis, organic acids will lose the carboxyl group and dimerize. This is known as the Kolbe electrolysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolbe_electrolysis

In the case of electrolysis of acetic acid, ethane and $\ce{CO2}$ will be formed.

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