Electrolysis

What is electrolysis?
-In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique which directs electric current to
drive a non spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is especially effective in the separation
of elements from ores and other naturally occurring substances.
How does electrolysis work?
-Electrolysis works by removing or adding in additional electrons through an external current.
Most of the time the products of electrolysis consist of solid products because they are the more
sought after and the easiest to collect afterward. An example of this process is the electrolysis of
brine to produce hydrogen and chlorine, the product of this reaction are a gaseous solution that
can be collected as is bubbles out of the solution.
2 NaCl + 2 H2O 2 NaOH + H2 + Cl2

Through this process electrons are either absorbed or released. Neutral atoms either acquire or lose electrons
and thus become charged particles that flow into the electrolyte. Through this process we can plate certain

metals with elements like Cu++ which deposited into a layer on the cathode, this process is called
electroplating.

Industrial uses for Electrolysis

-There are many uses for electrolysis in the engineering and industrial world. Electrometallurgy
is the process in which you obtain pure forms of metal using electrolysis. Some of these metals
include aluminum, lithium, sodium, potassium and many more metals that we use every day.
-We use electrolysis to produce oxygen for spacecraft and nuclear submarines.
-Electroplating is used in layering metals to fortify them; this can be used to strengthen existing
metal structures where corrosion has become a problem
-Electrolytic etching of metal surfaces like tools or knifes with a permanent logo or as a personal
touch. There are many different applications for electrolysis.

The diagram to left shows

how electrolysis is used in
batteries to maintain power
in our cell phones and
other devices