Skip to content
Know.itKnow.it
Create an animated lesson
On request

This article is free to read. Creating a lesson uses your daily or stored credits; review the language and settings before starting.

What is electrolysis?

ScienceLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

Electrolysis is using an electric current to drive a chemical reaction that wouldn't happen on its own — usually to split a compound apart. Passing electricity through water, for example, breaks it into hydrogen and oxygen gas. An electric current is passed through a liquid or molten compound.

Key things to understand

  1. An electric current is passed through a liquid or molten compound.
  2. It forces a reaction, pulling the compound apart.
  3. Splitting water yields hydrogen and oxygen.
  4. It's used to purify metals and to electroplate objects.
  5. It's essentially a battery's chemistry run in reverse.

People also ask

What is electrolysis used for?
Splitting water for hydrogen fuel, extracting and purifying metals like aluminum, and electroplating items with a thin metal coating.
How does electrolysis split water?
The current pulls water molecules apart at two electrodes, releasing hydrogen gas at one and oxygen at the other.
Is electrolysis the opposite of a battery?
In a sense — a battery uses a chemical reaction to make electricity, while electrolysis uses electricity to force a chemical reaction.