Electrolysis is the process of causing a chemical change in a compound by passing a direct electrical current through it. For example, electrolysis of water separates the water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.
There are many positive uses for electrolysis, particularly in the manufacture of chemicals, such as gases and metals, and other materials.
Electrolytic processes can also have undesirable effects. For instance, in automotive cooling systems, if its effect is not counteracted, electrolysis can quickly cause damaging corrosion when two different metals are in contact with each other in the presence of a liquid, such as engine coolant.
A wet cell battery, such as a typical lead/acid car battery, works as a result of the reverse of the electrolysis process. In this case, metal plates are submerged in liquid acid, and the resulting chemical reaction creates an electron flow between the two plates.
