Electrolysis

Within the fields of chemical engineering and manufacturing, electrolysis is the process by which a current is passed between two electrically charged electrodes through an ionic solution (called an electrolyte) , so as to deposit positive ions (cations) on the negative electrode (cathode) and the negative ions (anions) on the positive electrode (anode). This electro-chemical process as an entire system is called an electrolytic cell. This cell is commercially highly important as it is a stage in the separation of elements from naturally occurring ores.