Electrolysis is the chemical processin which the dcomposition of ionic compounds is dne by passing electricity through molten compounds or aqueous solutions of compounds. It can be used to cover a metal surface with another metal by electroplating, the purification of copper, the extraction of reactive metals such as aluminium, an dthe manufacturing of chemicals such as sodium chlorine and bleach. The apparatus used for electrolysis is called an electrolytic cell. It consists of two electrodes in aliquid electrolyte. A direct current power source is connectd to the electrolytes, decomposing it to simpler substance.
The seperation of substances using electrolysis is also possible. One example would be extracting sodium sodium chloride. Sodium choride is an ionic compound consisting of sodium ions and chloride ions, In the solid state, the oppositely charged ions attract each other and thus are not free to move, but in teh molten state, the ions are free to move. When a current is passed through the molten sodium chloride, a silvery liquid forms at the cathode(negetive electrode), this is molten sodium. Bubbles of a yellow-green gass appear aroung the anode(positive electrode, the gas chlorine. This happens as the ions are attracted to the oppositely charged electrode instead of each other, and hence a sample of sodium is extracted.
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