Understand that when an ionic compound is melted or completely dissolved in water, its constituent ions become free to move, transforming the substance into a conductive electrolyte.
Explain that passing a live electric current through an electrolyte forces positively charged ions to migrate to the negative electrode (cathode) and negatively charged ions to migrate to the positive electrode (anode).
Define electrolysis as the overarching process where ions are definitively discharged at electrodes to produce elemental matter.
Write accurate half-equations indicating the specific reactions occurring directly at the respective electrodes during the electrolysis process.
Complete and perfectly balance any partially supplied half-equations representing electrode reactions.
