In electrochemical leaching processes the solid must be an electric conductor, e.g., a metal, or a semiconductor, e.g., certain metal sulfides or oxides. Reaction takes place by the transfer of electrons at the solid surface and involves oxidation–reduction processes that take place simultaneously at two different locations not far from each other. At one location, electrons are picked up by a depolarizer, D, in solution, e.g., O2, H+, etc. (the cathodic zone) and at another location metal ions are released in solution (the anodic zone) where they react with reagent C. A single kinetic law derived theoretically is obeyed: Rate = k1k2A[D][C] / (k1[D] + k2[C]) where k1 and k2 are constants, and A is the total surface area of the dissolving solid.