Part 1 of Essay
Electrochemical processes are uniformly based on redox (reduction/oxidation) reactions. Think of it as the opposite of a battery. In a battery the chemical process is spontaneous and produces electrical energy, while in an electrolysis you need to put electrical energy in to run the chemical process. An electrolytic cell ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... reactions can proceed under milder conditions (more safely), with less hazardous waste (better for the environment), and in higher yields (better for your wallet) than a similar process using chemical reagents. Some synthetic processes can only be done using electrochemical methods, and electrochemical methods are used in the large-to-medium-scale synthesis of organic "fine chemicals" because of the financial, safety and environmental advantages. Here's a page outlining some current research by one of my gradu ....