Question

Which Type of Reaction is Corrosion?

Answer 1

Corrosion:

• Wasting away metals layer by layer due to the presence of air and moisture in the atmosphere is called corrosion.
• Example of rusting of iron: $\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\mathrm{x}.{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Rust}\right)}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3.\mathrm{x}.{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}$
• It is an Oxidation reaction.
• Here in the above reaction Iron is getting Oxidized to Ferric Oxide$\left({\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\right)$.

Impact of corrosion:

• Metals lose their luster and color change is seen. For example, Iron turns reddish brown when it gets rusted after corrosion. Copper turns green.
• It also loses its mechanical strength.
• Corrosion means oxidation or electrochemical degradation of the material.
• It generally happens with reactive metals, which easily form a layer of oxide on reaction with atmospheric oxygen,

Ways to prevent corrosion:

• Electroplating
• galvanizing
• Tinning
• Painting
• Oiling
• Keeping the material in a dry container.