Word
electrolysis
Phoneticselec·trol·y·sis
US/ɪˌɫɛkˈtɹɑɫəsəs/
UK/ɛlɪktɹˈɒləsˌɪs/
Definition
n. a process that uses electricity to break a chemical substance into its parts. It is often used to make new chemicals or to remove hair from the skin.
n. a chemical process in which an electric current is passed through a substance to cause a chemical change. It is primarily used for the separation of elements from compounds or for electroplating.
Examples
“Electrolysis is used to produce hydrogen gas from water.”
“The factory uses electrolysis to extract pure aluminum from bauxite ore in a large industrial furnace.”
“In the laboratory, electrolysis of water serves as a fundamental demonstration of how electrical energy can be converted into chemical energy through the splitting of molecular bonds.”
Examples
simple
“Electrolysis is used to produce hydrogen gas from water.”
contextual
“The factory uses electrolysis to extract pure aluminum from bauxite ore in a large industrial furnace.”
complex
“In the laboratory, electrolysis of water serves as a fundamental demonstration of how electrical energy can be converted into chemical energy through the splitting of molecular bonds.”
Real-World Examples
“Electrolysis can reduce CO2 to CO, a raw material for chemical products such as fuels.” “Li’s team found the key to making such low-carbon hydrogen gas by tweaking an existing technology called water electrolysis and adapting it to use organic waste that would otherwise be destined for the landfill.” Etymology
Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday. From electro- + -lysis (“a loosening”). Originally of tumors, later (1909) of hair removal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/electrolysis