Electrolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium chloride at a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 with anode and cathode in close proximity gives rise to an overall process whose reaction can be written as: Cl-(aq) + 3H2O --> ClO3-(aq) + 3H2(g), 
although the actual process is considerably more complex. Under appropriate conditions of aqueous electrolysis the chlorate ion can be further oxidized to the perchlorate ion. The overall anode reaction for this oxidation is: 
ClO3-(aq) + H2O --> ClO4-(aq) + 2H+(aq) + 2e-