The Electrolyser

The meaning of the word electrolysis is ‘breaking-up through electricity.’ An electric current is used to force chemical changes to take place in a substance; electrical energy is converted into chemical energy. This is the exact opposite of what happens in a battery or a fuel cell. There are two classes of substances which conduct electricity well – metals (plus graphite), and electrolytes. In metallic conduction, the electric current consists of a flow of electrons through the material.

No chemical change occurs in the conductor. The conductor may heat up because of its resistance to the current flow. (This effect is used in electric heaters and filament lightbulbs). In electroytic condition current flows between two electrodes that are immersed in the electrolyte. The current is carried not by electrons, but by ions.