Why does chlorine become stable?

We have an equation in our book


$$\ce{2Cl- (aq) + 2H2O -> 2OH-(aq) + H2(g) + Cl2(g)}$$


Why does chlorine become stable if it is electronegative?
Chlorine has excess of electrons, but later loses electron to become stable.


Is chlorine more stable than chloride?




Chemistry is not about finding the most stable state. In fact, a ‘most stable state’ has no meaning; it always depends on the conditions and other substances around.


Rather, chemistry is about following the pathway which leads to the greatest accessable reduction in Gibbs free energy $\Delta G$. If energy, in your case electricity, is supplied from the outside, the system’s Gibbs free energy may even be minimised by reacting towards substances with a lesser standard heat of formation.


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