Electrolysis is the
production of a chemical reaction by passing an electric current through an
electrolyte. In electrolysis, positive ions transfer to the cathode and
negative ions to the anode. The reactions occurring depend on electron transfer
at the electrodes and are therefore redox reactions. At the anode, negative
ions in solution may lose electrons to form neutral species. Alternatively,
atoms of the electrode can lose electrons and go into solution as positive
ions. In either case the reaction is an oxidation. At the cathode, positive
ions in solution can gain electrons to form neutral species. Thus cathode
reactions are reductions.