Chemical Engineering and Catalysis

Electrochemical Engineering

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An electrochemical process is a chemical reaction that is caused by the movement of electrical current. These processes are a type of oxidation-reduction reaction in which one atom or molecule loses an electron to another atom or molecule. In electrochemical reactions, the atoms or molecules in the reaction are relatively far apart from each other compared to other reactions, forcing the electrons being transferred to travel a greater distance and thereby produce an electrical current. Many natural phenomena are based on electrochemical processes, such as the corrosion of metals, the ability of some sea creatures to generate electrical fields, and the workings of the nervous systems of humans and other animals. They also play an important role in modern technology, most prominently in the storage of electrical power in batteries, and the electrochemical process called electrolysis is important in modern industry. Neurons use electrochemical processes to transmit information through the nervous system, allowing the nervous system to communicate with itself and with the rest of the body. Electric batteries use electrochemical processes to store and release electricity.