An unusual feature known as the negative difference effect (NDE) can be observed in magnesium when recording corrosion current density–potential curves. More hydrogen is evolved at a more positive potential which does not occur in conventional metals. Several models have been proposed in the literature in order to explain the phenomenon of NDE. They succeed in explaining some effects, and fail to deal with others. A new model, which explains the NDE by two electron consuming processes, is presented in this paper. By potentiostatic investigations of magnesium in a chloride electrolyte, measurements of hydrogen evolution and chemical analysis of the electrolyte the new model was experimentally verified.

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