Electrometallurgy is a term that relates to the extraction and refining of metals through the application of electrical energy. Some synonyms for the term include electrochemistry, electrorefining, and electrolysis. Electrochemistry refers to the study of chemical reactions and processes that involve the transfer of electrons. Electrorefining involves the purification of metals using electrolysis. Electrolysis refers to the process of passing an electrical current through a solution containing dissolved ions in order to cause them to separate into their constituent elements. These synonyms are often used interchangeably with electrometallurgy to describe the processes and technologies used in metal production and refining.