The process of transition from the passive to the active state by removal of the passivating
film. A necessary condition for
activation is an
electrode potential negative to the equilibrium potential of formation of the passivating
film.
Activation is achieved by cathodic currents, by a reduced substance in the adjacent solution,
or by contact with an electronic conductor having a suitably negative
corrosion potential.
Source:
PAC, 1989, 61, 19
(Electrochemical corrosion nomenclature (Recommendations 1988))
on page 21
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
