Electrolyte concentrations decrease in both compartments during inert electrode electrolysis

Steps:

• Inert electrodes do not react, so electrolysis discharges ions from the electrolyte solution.
• At the cathode (assume L), positive ions or water reduce, depleting cations and reducing electrolyte concentration.
• At the anode (assume M), negative ions or water oxidize, depleting anions and reducing electrolyte concentration.
• Without ion replenishment, concentrations in both L and M decrease over time.

Why A is correct:

• Faraday's laws of electrolysis show that the amount of substance discharged is proportional to charge passed, depleting electrolyte ions in both compartments equally.

Why the others are wrong:

• B: Anode concentration changes, not constant.
• C: Cathode concentration changes, not constant.
• D: Both concentrations change, neither stays constant.

Final answer: A