Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the breaking down of ionic compounds using electricity. Metals more reactive than carbon are extracted using electrolysis

Electrolysis is expensive because it requires a great deal of energy to melt the compounds  and to produce a current

The cathode and the anode are 2 electrodes which are made of a conducting material(graphite or metal). The negative electrode is the cathode and is where positive ions are attracted to whilst the positive electrode is the anode and is where negative ions are attracted to

Extraction of Aluminium:

Aluminium has a very high melting point so cryolite is used…