Electrolysis
/ˌiː.lɛkˈtrɒl.ɪ.sɪs/noun
The use of electric current to drive a chemical reaction, especially to decompose a compound.
Did you know?The term was coined in 1834 by Michael Faraday, who built it from Greek roots meaning “electric amber” and “loosening,” turning a scientific process into a word about forced release.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ēlektron
“Amber, the fossil resin associated with static electricity”
Ancient Greek
Greek
lýsis
“A loosening, releasing, or dissolving”
1834
English
electrolysis
“Faraday’s newly coined term for decomposition by electricity”
Modern English
English
electrolysis
“A chemical decomposition caused by an electric current”
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