WATER ELECTROLYSIS

"Process for the electrochemical decomposition of water in a divided electrolytic cell by electrolysis. Typically, hydrogen gas is produced at the steel cathode (see hydrogen evolution) and oxygen gas is produced at the nickel anode (see oxygen evolution). The cell is divided to avoid mixing the hydrogen and oxygen gases. The electrolyte is typically an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. Potassium hydroxide is used to provide a large ionic conductivity, even though the potassium is not reacting at any of the electrodes (see supporting electrolyte). "