Here, we will see how aqueous solution of common salt conducts electricity. Solid crystalline NaCl is made up of Na+ and Cl- ions bound by a strong force of attraction. The energy required to separate Na+ and Cl- ions (i.e., dissociate them) is ~7.9eV per molecule. The thermal energy at room temperature, is only 0.03eV per molecule, and thus cannot dissociate NaCl. However, when NaCl is dissolved in water, the force of attraction is greatly reduced because of the high dielectric constant (= 81) of water. In fact, the force reduces by a factor of 81, and the thermal energy is sufficient to dissociate completely into Na+ and Cl- ions. This process is called ionisation.
Electrolyte conductivity is smaller than that of metals by a factor of 10-5 to 10-6 at room temperature. This is due to the smaller number density of ions as compared to free electrons, greater viscosity of the medium in which they move and the larger mass of ions.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is the dissociation of a electrolyte into ions at the electrodes by the passage of electric current.
That is, it is the conduction of electric current through an electrolyte together with the resulting chemical changes.
Electrolysis is carried out in an apparatus called voltameter or electrolytic cell. It consists of a glass vessel containing an electrolyte and 2 metal plates called electrodes, connected to a battery. The electrode connected to the positive terminal of the battery is called anode, and the one connected to the negative terminal is called cathode.
Electrolysis of Copper Sulphate solution

Observation:-
It is found that copper is removed from the anode and is deposited on the cathode. Due to ionization, the CuSO4
solution is dissociated.

When the source of emf is connected, a steady current flows in the circuit. Then, the following happen
1. Electrons flow from the negative terminal of the battery via the wire to the cathode C.
2. Electrode C is at a lower potential than electrode A. Therefore, the Cu2+ ions move towards C, while the
ions move towards
A.
3. At the cathode C, the following reduction reaction occurs

These Cu atoms get deposited on the cathode.
4. At the anode A, the following oxidation reaction takes place. The Cu atoms are from the anode.

5. The Cu2+ ions go into the solution. The released electrons flow back to the positive terminal of the battery via the wire.
Thus, copper gets deposited at the cathode, while the anode loses an equivalent amount of copper. The concentration of CuSO4 in the solution remains unchanged.
Electrolysis of Silver Nitrate Solution
Here, the electrolyte is AgNO3 and the electrodes are silver plates. The process of electrolysis is identical to that of CuSO4 solution, except for one important difference. Copper has valency two, while silver has valency one. The reactions at the electrodes are:-


So, silver gets deposited at the cathode, while the anode loses an equal amount of Ag. The concentration of AgNO3 in the solution stays the same.
In the electrode position of silver, one electron circulated for depositing one silver atom on the cathode; but in the case of copper, two electrons circulate for the deposition of one copper atom.
MICHAEL FARADAY'S LAWS

Michael Faraday, the great British experimental physicist, began his
experiments on the passage of electricity through liquids, in 1834.