Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a process that uses electricity to break down a compound into its individual elements. It involves passing an electric current through a liquid called an electrolyte, which contains ions—charged particles. As the current flows, positive ions move toward the negative electrode (cathode) where they gain electrons and become neutral, while negative ions move toward the positive electrode (anode) where they lose electrons and also become neutral. This separation allows us to extract or purify materials, such as splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases or refining metals.