Which statement describes the basic purpose of electrolysis?

• A. Separates ionic compounds into the elements that form them
• B. Forms new compounds by combination
• C. Changes acids into bases
• D. Produces electricity

Answer: (A)

Electrolysis uses electrical energy to break apart ionic compounds into their component elements or simpler substances. When current flows through a molten salt or aqueous solution, the cations move to the cathode and gain electrons to become elements, while the anions move to the anode and lose electrons to form other substances. This decomposition is what the process aims to achieve, so it’s described as separating the ionic compound into the elements that form it. For example, molten sodium chloride can be split into sodium metal and chlorine gas. The other statements describe different kinds of reactions or processes—forming new compounds by combining, neutralizing acids and bases, or generating electricity—not the main purpose of electrolysis.