Answer to Question #126592 in Organic Chemistry for Alice

Question

A typical buried Fe pipeline and Mg anode. Give a detailed of how this system works to prevent corrosion of the pipeline?

Answer 1

 Magnesium is electrochemically the most active metal employed in common structural alloys of iron and aluminum. Mg is widely used as a sacrificial anode to provide cathodic protection of A typical buried Fe pipeline and Mg anode .

The technique of providing cathodic protection to steel preserves the metal by providing a highly active metal (like Mg) that can act as an anode and provide free electrons. By introducing these free electrons, the active metal sacrifices its ions and keeps the less active Fe pipeline from corroding.