What is the primary purpose of electrolysis in chemistry?

The primary purpose of electrolysis in chemistry is to break down ionic substances using electricity. During the electrolysis process, an electric current is passed through an ionic compound dissolved in water or melted, which causes the compound to dissociate into its constituent ions. These ions then migrate towards the electrodes, where chemical reactions occur - cations move towards the cathode (negative electrode) and anions move towards the anode (positive electrode). This process is fundamental in various applications, such as the extraction of metals from ores, electroplating, and the production of chemical compounds from their elements.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of electrolysis. While combining elements into compounds can occur in chemical reactions, electrolysis specifically involves the separation of compounds into their respective ions. Therefore, synthesizing new chemical structures is not the primary goal of electrolysis, nor is purifying metals through heating, which refers to different processes like smelting or refining rather than electrolysis.