Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to decompose an electrolyte, which is an ionic substance in molten or aqueous state, into simpler substances. When an electric current is passed through an electrolyte, the ions move to the oppositely charged electrode where they gain or lose electrons to become neutral atoms, depositing as elements onto the electrodes. For electrolysis to occur, the ionic substance must be heated until molten to allow the ions to move freely through the solution when a power supply is connected to the electrodes.
Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to decompose an electrolyte, which is an ionic substance in molten or aqueous state, into simpler substances. When an electric current is passed through an electrolyte, the ions move to the oppositely charged electrode where they gain or lose electrons to become neutral atoms, depositing as elements onto the electrodes. For electrolysis to occur, the ionic substance must be heated until molten to allow the ions to move freely through the solution when a power supply is connected to the electrodes.
Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to decompose an electrolyte, which is an ionic substance in molten or aqueous state, into simpler substances. When an electric current is passed through an electrolyte, the ions move to the oppositely charged electrode where they gain or lose electrons to become neutral atoms, depositing as elements onto the electrodes. For electrolysis to occur, the ionic substance must be heated until molten to allow the ions to move freely through the solution when a power supply is connected to the electrodes.
Electrolysis is the process of decomposing (breaking down) an ionic substance,
called an electrolyte, into simpler substances using electricity. The chemical
reaction of electrolysis occurs when an electric current is passed through a solution containing ions (ions are charged atoms, they have more or less electrons than protons which causes an imbalance, the overall charge can be negative or positive).
For the electrolyte to conduct electricity, it must be:
An ionic compound In molten or aqueous state
The process of Electrolysis: Electrolysis of an ionic substance
The ionic substance is heated until it melts. The ions are able to move freely after the ionic substance is melted. The power supply is connected and the electrodes are charged. The ions move to the oppositely charged electrode (the negative electrons move to the positive electrode, called the anode, and the positive electrons move to the negative electrode, called the cathode). The electrodes give/take electrons from the ions which makes the ions neutral. The ions become atoms (because they are neutral) and are deposited onto the electrode.