Electrodes under active dissolution conditions are known to systematically exhibit an inductive behavior in the low-frequency range. The variation of the steady-state specific surface area as a function of potential is explored as the origin of this inductive behavior, using numerical simulations. The results confirm the validity of the mechanism. Especially, the observed relationship between the characteristic frequency of the inductive loop and the steady-state current density is reproduced quantitatively by the simulations, together with the switching from inductive to capacitive behavior in the prepassivation region. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.