Question

What is meant by the term 'sacrificial' as used in electrochemistry

Answer 1

Answer:

One type of cathodic protection system is the sacrificial anode.  The anode is made from a metal alloy with a more "active" voltage (more negative electrochemical potential) than the metal of the structure it is protecting (the cathode). The difference in potential between the two metals means the sacrificial anode material corrodes in preference to the structure. This effectively stops the oxidation reactions on the metal of the structure being protection.