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The anode rod is magnesium wrapped around
a steel core wire to protect against corrosion.
When the tank is filled with water, an
electrolytic process begins, where over time,
the sacrificial magnesium anode is consumed.
All metals fall somewhere on the galvanic
scale of reactivity. When two are placed
together in water, the "nobler“, or less reactive
one, will remain intact while the more reactive
one corrodes.
In the water heater, the magnesium corrodes
over time while the steel tank remains intact.
Anode Rod