Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
electrolytically

electrolytically

1 8.6
In a way that uses electricity to cause a chemical change, for example to separate or deposit metals
  • adverb
  • /ɪˌlɛk.trəˈlɪt.ɪ.kli/
  • Specialized
: electrolíticamente
  • Eventually, hydrogen may be produced electrolytically using wind or solar electricity.

Examples

  • Researchers electrolytically separated the compounds to obtain pure substances.

  • Etching was performed electrolytically using 10% oxalic acid.

    Academic text (2000)

  • There's another way to pull material off that you Polish with an electrolyte and you basically electrolytically pull copper off.

  • The metal was coated electrolytically to enhance its corrosion resistance.

  • The process electrolytically generates hydrogen gas for fuel.

Synonyms

electrochemically
vselectrolytically
  • Specialized
1 7.7

Using electricity to cause a chemical reaction

is about the specific process of splitting substances using electricity

Surface Forms

electrolytically positive

Morphology

electrolytically = electrolytic (transparent) = electrolytic + ally

The adverb is formed by regular adjectival-to-adverbial suffixation from 'electrolytic'; the meaning is directly compositional though technical.

Etymology

Electrolytically breaks into two parts: electro- (about 'electricity') and -lytic (from a root meaning 'to break apart'). So to do something electrolytically is to use electricity to 'break apart' or separate substances, which is exactly what electrolysis does.