During corrosion caused by stray current, which charges does the cathode attract?

In the context of corrosion caused by stray current, the cathode is the electrode where reduction occurs, and it is where electrons are gained. When stray currents pass through a metal structure, the cathode attracts positively charged ions, which are typically metal cations that are present in the water or the surrounding environment. The attraction happens because negatively charged electrons flow towards the cathode, leading to an accumulation of positive charges in the vicinity of the cathode. This process can lead to the reduction of those metallic ions as they gain electrons, which further contributes to the corrosion process.

The role of the cathode is crucial because the presence of positive charges near it is essential for the electrochemical reactions that characterize corrosion. Thus, when considering the charges that the cathode attracts during corrosion due to stray current, it is correct to state that it attracts negative charges, which are electrons, but those electrons aid in attracting the positively charged ions. This interaction is central to understanding the dynamics of corrosion in a system influenced by stray current.