Cathodic Protection Tester Practice Exam

In an anodic process, what leaves the anode and enters the electrolyte?

1. Negatively charged electrons

2. Positively charged ions

3. Neutral atoms

4. Hydrogen gas

The correct answer is: Positively charged ions

In an anodic process, positively charged ions are the species that leave the anode and enter the electrolyte. This occurs during oxidation, a fundamental reaction at the anode in electrochemical cells. At the anode, a substance undergoes oxidation, which generally involves the loss of electrons, leading to the formation of positively charged ions. These positively charged ions are typically the result of metal atoms losing one or more electrons, which results in the metal being oxidized and transitioning into the ionic state. This release into the electrolyte signifies a key part of the electrochemical process, influencing not only the flow of current but also the protective measures employed in cathodic protection systems. The other options do not accurately represent what happens at the anode during such a process. Negatively charged electrons do not leave the anode; rather, they are released into the external circuit. Neutral atoms do not typically enter the electrolyte from the anode in this context, as they would need to be oxidized first to become ions. Hydrogen gas can be generated in some reactions, but it is not a product that originates from the anode itself under typical anodic conditions in corrosion or cathodic protection scenarios.