In an electrochemical cell, which component is likely to lose metal or mass?

In an electrochemical cell, the anode is the component that is likely to lose metal or mass. This is due to the fundamental processes that occur within the cell during electrochemical reactions. At the anode, oxidation takes place, where a substance, typically a metal, loses electrons and subsequently dissolves into the electrolyte. This reaction results in a decrease in mass of the anode as the metal ions enter the solution.

The specific function of the anode and the processes occurring there are critical to understanding corrosion in marine environments. In marine applications, metals such as zinc or aluminum are often used as sacrificial anodes to protect other metals from corrosion. The sacrificial anode will corrode preferentially, thereby losing mass to provide cathodic protection to the other components of the vessel.

In contrast, at the cathode, reduction occurs, where species in the electrolyte gain electrons, and there is often a buildup of material rather than a loss. The electrolyte acts as a medium to facilitate ion movement and does not lose mass itself, while ions are the charged particles that participate in the electrochemical reactions but do not inherently possess mass in the context of the electrochemical processes described.