Electrolysis in Chemistry
Electrolysis in Chemistry The chemical effect of electrical current, also known as electrolysis, is a fundamental process in chemistry and plays a crucial role in many industrial and scientific applications. Electrolysis involves the decomposition of an electrolyte solution into its constituent ions by the passage of an electric current through it. The resulting chemical reactions can produce new compounds, separate metals, or refine ores. Electrolysis was first discovered by Michael Faraday in the early 19th century, and his laws of electrolysis still form the basis of our understanding of this process today. Faraday's first law states that the amount of a substance produced at an electrode is directly proportional to the amount of electrical charge passing through the electrode. This law can be expressed mathematically as: m = Q/Fz where m is the mass of the substance produced, Q is the amount of electrical charge passed through the electrode, F is Faraday's constant