Electrolysis is a chemical process that uses electricity to break down a substance into its basic components. This technique is often used to separate elements from their compounds, such as splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. By passing an electric current through a liquid solution, ions move towards electrodes, leading to chemical reactions that produce different substances. One common application of electrolysis is in the extraction of metals from ores. For example, aluminum is obtained from its ore, bauxite, through electrolysis. This method is essential in industries like metallurgy and is also used in processes like water purification and hair removal.