In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis's a method of using an electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis's commercially highly important as a stage in the separation of elements from naturally-occurring sources such as ores using an electrolytic cell. History 1800 - William Nicholson and Johann Ritter decomposed water into hydrogen and oxygen. 1807 - Potassium, Sodium, Barium, Calcium and Magnesium were discovered by Sir Humphry Davy using elect… (More on Electrolysis)