Electrolysis is a process that uses direct electric current to decompose a compound or initiate a chemical reaction that would not otherwise occur spontaneously. This process requires passing electricity through a liquid solution or molten salt, known as an electrolyte. When the electrical current reaches the immersed electrodes, chemical reactions take place at the surfaces, defining distinct reduction and oxidation half-reactions. The resulting chemical changes can be harnessed for various technological applications, including the purification of metals, the recovery of valuable elements, and the process of electroplating, where a thin layer of one metal is deposited onto the surface of another for protective or decorative purposes.