Silver nitrate electrolysis. Close-up time-lapse footage of the reactions at the two electrodes in an electrolysis experiment with silver nitrate solution. The anode is at left and the cathode at right. At the cathode, silver ions in solution receive electrons from the electric current, turning them into silver atoms. This leads to the deposition and growth of silver crystals (dark grey) on the cathode. At the anode, hydroxide ions in the water lose electrons, forming oxygen gas, which forms a stream of bubbles. This is a redox reaction, the silver ions are reduced (gaining electrons) and the oxygen is oxidised (losing electrons). This clip is shown at four times normal speed.