Zinc anodes are sacrificial anodes made from zinc metal that are commonly used for cathodic protection in various applications, particularly in the protection of metallic structures against corrosion. Cathodic protection is a corrosion control technique that involves using a more reactive metal (the sacrificial anode) to protect a less reactive metal (the structure being protected).

When zinc anodes are installed and electrically connected to the structure to be protected, they become the cathode in the electrochemical cell, and the structure becomes the anode. As a result, the zinc anode corrodes over time, releasing electrons and forming zinc ions. This corrosion process effectively sacrifices the zinc anode to protect the metal structure from corrosion.