Question

Define what is electrolysis and the process of electrolysis?

Answer 1

Hint: Electrolysis is the process by which electric current is passed through the substance to bring about the chemical effect. If we focus on its name ‘electrolysis’, it says that the splitting or decomposition of the chemical compound using an electric field.

Complete answer:
So we can say that electrolysis is the decomposition of the chemical substance using an electric current.
Now look at the process of electrolysis:
Electrolysis is carried out in an ‘electrolytic cell’.
Electrolytic cell is a special apparatus type used to run the electrolytic reaction. It is composed of two electrodes – anode and cathode at which the decomposition reaction of the chemical substance takes place by the oxidation and reduction respectively. Electrolytic cell consists of the solution in which both the electrodes are dipped. And the substance to be obtained is either in the form of electrode (cathode) or in the form of solution or either dissolved in a solution.
Electric current travels through the electrode (cathode). And the substance reaches to the cathode and accepts the electron from it and gets reduced or is deposited near the cathode. In the same way the solution travels to the anode and donates its electron there and gets oxidized, thus depositing the substance.

Note:
So, basically we can say that the electrolysis works on the phenomena of oxidation and reduction reaction on the application of the electric current. The process electrolysis is extensively used in the metallurgy process and in the processes that require separation of metals from their ores and in deposition of substances from its solutions.