# electrolysis

/ɪˌɫɛkˈtɹɑɫəsəs/ (US) · /ɛlɪktɹˈɒləsˌɪs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/electrolysis
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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