How does an electric current cause ions to form new substances during electrolysis?

During electrolysis, an electric current drives chemical changes by forcing ions to migrate toward oppositely charged electrodes, where they undergo oxidation or reduction.12

When a direct current is applied to an electrolytic cell, the electrodes develop opposite polarities, causing the following process:

• Migration: Positively charged ions move toward the negative electrode (cathode), while negatively charged ions move toward the positive electrode (anode).32
• Electron Transfer: At the cathode, ions gain electrons (reduction) to become neutral atoms or new molecules. At the anode, ions transfer electrons to the electrode (oxidation), also forming neutral particles or new substances.13
• Chemical Transformation: This discharge of ions at the electrode surfaces converts the charged particles into new chemical species, effectively using electrical energy to drive a chemical reaction that would not otherwise occur.32

Essentially, the current acts as a source of electrons that facilitates the transformation of ions into stable, neutral elements or compounds.12