What is electrolysis and how does it apply to water and salt?

1 Answer

Electrolysis is a means by which electric energy facilitates the chemical reaction of decomposition in which compounds are broken down into their individual elements.

Explanation:

Electrolysis is the use of an electric current to facilitate the decomposition of a compound. Water is decomposed by electrolysis into #"O"_2"# and #"H"_2"#. Molten sodium chloride is also decomposed by electrolysis into #"Na"# and #"Cl"_2"#.