MLchartDataset catalogue

Active metal

Term · Chemistry · MLC-T-CHM-000187

A metal that is corroding, meaning it is in a state where it dissolves electrochemically at a measurable rate. This contrasts with a passive metal, which has a much lower corrosion rate due to the formation of a protective surface film. The potential of an active metal is more negative than that of the same metal in its passive state.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-CHM-000187
FieldChemistry
SubjectPhysical and Biophysical Chemistry
ReferencesPAC, 1989, 61, 19. 'Electrochemical corrosion nomenclature (Recommendations 1988)' on page 21 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198961010019)
See alsoActive state
Record as JSON
{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-000187",
  "term": "Active metal",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A metal that is corroding, meaning it is in a state where it dissolves electrochemically at a measurable rate. This contrasts with a passive metal, which has a much lower corrosion rate due to the formation of a protective surface film. The potential of an active metal is more negative than that of the same metal in its passive state.",
  "subject": "Physical and Biophysical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "active state"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1989, 61, 19. 'Electrochemical corrosion nomenclature (Recommendations 1988)' on page 21 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198961010019)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/active-metal/"
}

Record 194 of 13,676 in Chemistry terminology (MLC-0109). Request the full dataset.