electrolysis

noun

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elec·trol·y·sis | \ i-ˌlek-ˈträ-lə-səs

Definition of electrolysis

1a : the producing of chemical changes by passage of an electric current through an electrolyte

b : subjection to this action

2 : the destruction of hair roots by an electrologist using direct current

Examples of electrolysis in a Sentence

She had electrolysis done on her upper lip.

Recent Examples on the Web The equipment needed for the beginning of the process—transferring a drawing onto a metal pattern by means of a glass plate, wax and electrolysis—had been lost. — The Economist, "Setting type How the world’s old printing presses are being brought back to life," 18 Dec. 2019 With green hydrogen, water is heated through electrolysis to produce hydrogen. — Benjamin Storrow, Scientific American, "Can A Big Oil Company Go Carbon-Free?," 6 Dec. 2019 By electrolysis -- sending an electric current through water to split hydrogen atoms from oxygen. — William Wilkes, Washington Post, "How ‘Green Hydrogen’ Could Make ‘Green Steel’ Real," 23 Nov. 2019 Getting hydrogen from electrolysis rather than SMR is more expensive, at least today, for the simple reason that natural gas tends to be cheaper than electricity. — David Roberts, Vox, "Sucking carbon out of the air won’t solve climate change," 14 June 2018 Costs are expected to tumble as electrolysis technology becomes more efficient and production is scaled up. — William Wilkes, Washington Post, "How ‘Green Hydrogen’ Could Make ‘Green Steel’ Real," 23 Nov. 2019 Last month, in Dresden, Germany, a company called Sunfire completed a test run of a high-temperature electrolysis reactor, known as a solid-oxide fuel cell, that promises even higher efficiency than PEM electrolyzers. — Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, "Can the world make the chemicals it needs without oil?," 19 Sep. 2019 The foam core acts a conductor, and the nickel-iron hydroxide starts the electrolysis. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Are Now Transforming Saltwater Into Hydrogen Fuel," 20 Mar. 2019 The bulk of the power would be used to run desalination and electrolysis equipment. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Creative thinking: Researchers propose solar methanol island using ocean CO₂," 6 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'electrolysis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

26 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Electrolysis.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrolysis. Accessed 28 January 2020.

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More Definitions for electrolysis

electrolysis

noun