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At the heart of chemistry are chemical reactions, where one or more substances transform into different substances. - These reactions involve breaking chemical bonds and forming new ones. - The reactants are the starting chemicals, and products are the result. Chemical reactions can be divided into different types, such as synthesis, decomposition, single displacement, and double displacement. A vital aspect is that chemical reactions often involve energy changes. In cases like electrolysis, energy is required to facilitate the reaction.
It means the reaction won't occur without a specific energy source. Electrolysis is a perfect example of utilizing non-spontaneous chemical reactions. Here, electricity serves as the energy source to induce a reaction. In particular, when sodium chloride undergoes electrolysis, a decomposition reaction occurs where sodium and chlorine are separated.

Sodium chloride is commonly known as table salt. It is a compound formed by the combination of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). - The chemical formula for sodium chloride is NaCl. This formula shows that each sodium atom is paired with a chlorine atom. In nature, sodium chloride is abundant in seawater and is easily recognizable in its crystalline form.
When considering electrolysis, this compound acts as the primary candidate for sodium extraction. Why sodium is bonded with chlorine? Sodium is a very reactive metal that easily loses an electron to become a positively charged ion. Chlorine is a non-metal looking to gain an electron to become negatively charged. Together they form a stable ionic bond to produce sodium chloride.
Using electrolysis, one can break down this stable compound, allowing for the production of pure sodium.

Electric current is the flow of electric charge, usually carried by moving electrons through a conductor. In electrolysis, electric current is vital. Electric current provides the energy needed to drive chemical reactions that wouldn't occur spontaneously. In the example of sodium chloride electrolysis, the electric current serves to split sodium and chlorine. - There are two electrodes involved: a cathode (negative) and an anode (positive). - In sodium chloride electrolysis, electrical energy moves electrons to the cathode, attracting the sodium ions. When sodium ions reach the cathode, they gain electrons to become sodium atoms. The positive chlorine ions are attracted to the anode where they lose electrons to form chlorine gas. This flow of electrons constitutes what we refer to as 'electric current', crucial for the entire electrolysis process.