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Electrolysis: Nonspontaneous Redox Driven by Current

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Electrolysis forces a nonspontaneous redox reaction to proceed by supplying electrical energy from an external source, running the reaction against its own natural direction.

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Passing current through molten NaCl drives the nonspontaneous decomposition of NaCl into sodium metal and chlorine gas.

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Electrolysis does not make a nonspontaneous reaction spontaneous — it overpowers a negative E°cell with external energy.