What is the corrosion loop?

Question

Accepted Answer

The corrosion loop is a process involving an anode, cathode, electrolyte, and metallic path that leads to corrosion of a material.

Corrosion loop involves an anode (site of oxidation), cathode (site of reduction), electrolyte (conducting medium), and metallic path (connection between anode and cathode).
Anode undergoes oxidation reaction, releasing electrons into the metallic path.
Cathode undergoes reduction reaction, accepting electrons from the metallic path.
Electrolyte allows for the flow of ions between anode and cathode, completing the circuit.
Examples include rusting of iron (Fe), where iron acts as the anode, oxygen in the air acts as the cathode, water acts as the electrolyte, and the metallic path is the iron itself.