Question

Define electrolysis?

Answer 1

• The decomposition of a substance (Electrolytes) by passing electricity through it is known as electrolysis.
• ‘Electro’ means electricity and ‘lysis’ means breaking, hence electrolysis is the breaking or decomposing of a substance in the presence of electricity
• It is a chemical change.
• Nonelectrolytes i.e., substances that do not dissolve in water cannot be decomposed by electrolysis.
• Example: Decomposition of water by electrolysis.

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Overall}\mathrm{reaction}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{electrolysis}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{water}: \\ 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \end{gathered}$$