Electrolysis

Electrolysis uses electrical current to drive a nonspontaneous chemical reaction. It occurs in an electrolytic cell, where oxidation and reduction take place at separate electrodes.

Electrolytic cell: An electrochemical cell that uses an external power source to drive a nonspontaneous redox reaction. Electrolysis takes place in this cell, with the power supply driving electron transfer.
Oxidation-reduction reaction: A chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred between species or their oxidation states change. Every electrolytic reaction couples oxidation at one electrode with reduction at the other.
Chlor-alkali process: An industrial process that electrolyzes brine to produce chlorine, hydrogen, and sodium hydroxide. It is a large-scale application of electrolysis with products formed at both electrodes.
Galvanic cell: An electrochemical cell that produces electrical energy from a spontaneous redox reaction. Unlike an electrolytic cell, it generates current rather than consuming it to drive reaction.
Anode: The electrode at which oxidation occurs in an electrochemical cell. During electrolysis, the power supply draws electrons from the anode as oxidation occurs.
Electric current: The rate at which electric charge passes a point. Current measures the charge flow that supplies electrons for electrode reactions.
Hall–Héroult process: The industrial electrolytic process used to extract aluminum from alumina dissolved in molten cryolite. Electrolysis makes aluminum production possible from a stable oxide that cannot be reduced economically with carbon.
Electrosynthesis: The preparation of chemical compounds through electrode reactions driven by electrical energy. It applies electrolysis selectively to make useful compounds rather than merely decompose substances.
Cathode: The electrode at which reduction occurs in an electrochemical cell. Electrons delivered to the cathode enable reduction during electrolysis.
Electrolyte: A substance that forms mobile ions when dissolved or molten and thereby conducts electricity. Mobile ions carry charge through the electrolyte between the electrodes.

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