Why Can't Electrolysis occur without water?

[silva]

title is the question 
is it because w/out water there are no dissolved particles of whatever solid you are electrolysing, hence no charged particles to conduct a current hence no electrolysis occurs?

[arthurk]

What about the charging of lead acid battery?

[argentum]

Electrolysis can occur without water
You just need an electrolyte to conduct a charge

[TheJosh]

yeah they electrolyse molten ions in Downs Cell so Like argentum said just need electrolyte

[kimtywong]

title is the question  
is it because w/out water there are no dissolved particles of whatever solid you are electrolysing, hence no charged particles to conduct a current hence no electrolysis occurs?

electrolysis CAN occur without water. eg molten sodium chloride.
yes, exactly as said by argentum

but if u wanna electrolyse water itself to form H2 and O2, some impurities such as potassium nitrate should be added to conduct electricity. water itself has low electrical conductivity.

[monokekie]

it needs to be a liquid that conducts electricity. There should be ions that carry charges in order to complete the circuit.