A sacrificial anode is used to protect a metal by preferential oxidation. Which description matches this?

A sacrificial anode is used to protect a metal by preferential oxidation. Which description matches this?

• A. A coating that seals metal
• B. A metal that is more easily oxidized than the protected metal
• C. A metal oxide layer
• D. A cathode

Answer: (B)

In sacrificial protection, a metal that is more easily oxidized than the metal you want to protect is deliberately used to take on the corrosion. Because it is more active, it becomes the anode and corrodes first, while electrons flow to the protected metal, keeping it from oxidizing. This is why a more reactive metal like zinc or magnesium is paired with iron or steel in corrosive environments—the sacrificial metal sacrifices itself to save the other. So the description that fits is a metal that is more easily oxidized than the protected metal.

In sacrificial protection, a metal that is more easily oxidized than the metal you want to protect is deliberately used to take on the corrosion. Because it is more active, it becomes the anode and corrodes first, while electrons flow to the protected metal, keeping it from oxidizing. This is why a more reactive metal like zinc or magnesium is paired with iron or steel in corrosive environments—the sacrificial metal sacrifices itself to save the other. So the description that fits is a metal that is more easily oxidized than the protected metal.