Electrolysis

noun (uncountable)

/ɪˌlɛkˈtrɒlɪsɪs/

A chemical process in which an electric current is passed through an ionic substance (an electrolyte — liquid or dissolved) to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction, typically causing decomposition into its constituent elements at the electrodes. The most policy-relevant application in UPSC/GS3 is water electrolysis for green hydrogen production: an electric current splits water (H₂O) into hydrogen gas (at the cathode) and oxygen gas (at the anode); when powered by renewable electricity, the hydrogen is termed 'green'. India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM, 2023, ₹19,744 crore) envisions 5 MMT of green hydrogen production per year by 2030, with the electrolyser manufacturing target of 15 GW capacity.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The National Green Hydrogen Mission's target of manufacturing 15 GW of electrolyser capacity domestically by 2030 reflects India's strategic intent to move beyond simply producing green hydrogen to commanding the upstream supply chain of the electrolysis technology that makes it possible.

Synonyms

electrochemical decompositionelectrochemical splittingelectrolytic decompositionwater splitting (context-specific)

Antonyms

electrosynthesiselectrodepositiongalvanic reaction (spontaneous)

🌱 Word Family

electrolysis (n), electrolyse/electrolyze (v), electrolyte (n), electrolytic (adj), electrolyser/electrolyzer (n), electrode (n), electrolysis cell (n phrase)

🔡 Root

Greek ēlektron = amber (source of static electricity); Greek lysis = a loosening, dissolution (from lyein = to loosen, set free)

📜 Etymology

The word was coined by Michael Faraday in 1834, who also introduced electrode, electrolyte, anode, and cathode as a systematic vocabulary for the new science of electrochemistry. Electro- derives from Greek ēlektron ('amber', which was observed to attract objects when rubbed); -lysis from Greek lyein ('to loosen/dissolve').

🧠 Memory Hook

ELECTRO + LYSIS: lysis means 'loosening/splitting' (as in 'analysis' = breaking apart, 'dialysis' = blood splitting). Electrolysis is electricity doing the splitting. For green hydrogen: current in, water apart — H₂ and O₂ out. The Faraday connection (1834 coinage) is a reliable Prelims anchor.

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