Electrolysis. Electrolysis is a process whereby a chemical reaction is induced in a reactant mixture by the use of electron energy. The process of electrolysis requires the use of at least two electrodes, an electrolyte (containing ions) and a source of direct current. The electrolyte may be a solution of a salt or the molten salt itself but the ions must be mobile. Electrolysis in its many forms can be used to investigate reaction processes (e.g. cyclic voltammetry), for analytical purposes (e.g. polarography) or for the commercial manufacture of certain substances (e.g. the electrolytic production of hydrogen and the production of chlorine and caustic soda) and the manufacture of metals (e.g. the production of aluminium from fused bauxite and the purification of copper).

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