Word of the Day
1 March 2026
electrochemical series
A list of the metals in order of their electronegativity (and hence their reactivity).
Why this one
Its practical value is in pairs, not singles: the metal further down the list is the one that gives itself up, which is why zinc anodes protect steel. Position predicts the drive to corrode, not the speed, and real seawater rankings shift from the textbook order.
In use
Bolting bright aluminium brackets onto that steel frame with nothing between them, have a look at the electrochemical series before you order the rest.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.