Notes & Further Exercise:
Chapter 13 Corrosion of metals
Name:_______________________ Class: _______ ( )
Corrosion of metals
Ø Corrosion is the slow reaction of a metal with air and water or other substances in the environment.
The metal will be gradually deteriorated.
Ø Corrosion of metals occurs everywhere in daily life. However, some metals easily corrode while some
do not.
Ø Example of easily corroded metal is iron .
Ø Example of never corroded metal is gold .
Ø Generally, a metal with higher reactivity will corrode more rapidly.
Rusting
Ø Rusting refers to the corrosion of iron.
Ø When iron reacts with oxygen and water, rust is formed on the iron surface loosely. Rust is in fact
hydrated iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3□nH2O. When the rust falls off, the fresh iron will be exposed to
air and water, rusting will continue.
Ø Rusting is a complex chemical process.
. To start with, iron loses electrons to form iron(II) ion.
Fe(s) à Fe2+(aq) + 2e-
Dissolved oxygen and water accept the electrons from iron.
½ O2 (g) + H2O (l) + 2e ® 2OH-(aq)
. Iron(II) hydroxide is formed from iron(II) ions and hydroxide ions:
Fe2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) à Fe(OH)2(s)
. Iron(II) hydroxide further reacts with oxygen and water to form iron(III) hydroxide.
4Fe(OH)2(s) + O2(g) + 2H2O(l) ® 4Fe(OH)3 (s)
. Iron(III) hydroxide combined with the moisture to form hydrated iron(III) oxide.
2Fe(OH)3(s) + (n-3) H2O (l) ® Fe2O3 • nH2O (s)
Ø Overall equation:
4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) + 2nH2O(ℓ) ® 2Fe2O3□nH2O(s) (reddish brown solid)
Factors that speed up rusting include:
Factors Chemistry
Presence of acidic Provide a better __conductivity____ for the
solutions or soluble ions electrochemical process
A less reactive metal in Iron, being more reactive, will lose electrons __more_
contact with iron readily when connected to a less reactive metal, iron can
form __iron(II)___ ions and rust more easily.
High temperature Provide more __energy__ for the reaction.
Rusting will be _faster__with higher temperature.
Uneven or sharply pointed As the iron atoms are not packed so regularly___, iron
regions in the iron piece can form iron(II) ions and be removed from the metal
structure more easily
Classwork 1:
1. The following set-ups are used to show the importance of air and water in the formation of rust.
1
(a) Explain the use of the following substances.
(i) anhydrous calcium chloride,
To absorb moisture in air
(ii) ‘boiled’ distilled water in tube 2, and
Remove the dissolved oxygen in the water
(iii) oil layer in tube 2.
Prevent oxygen from dissolving into the boiled distilled water
(b) Which tube(s) will have rusting? Why?
Test tube 1 has air but no water. The iron nail will / won’t (circle the answer) rust.
Test tube 2 has water but no air. The iron nail will / won’t (circle the answer) rust.
Test tube 3 and 4 will have rusting because of the presence of BOTH air and water .
(c) What is the conclusion of the experiment?
Rusting occurs in the presence of both air and water.
To observe rusting
Ø A rust indicator (potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) solution) can be used to show where rusting
occurs.
Ø The rust indicator gives a blue colour in the presence of iron(II) ions.
Ø Phenolphthalein is an acid-alkali indicator. It turns pink in alkaline solutions.
To solve the problem of iron rusting:
(a) use substitute materials, or
(b) Protect iron from rusting:
1. (2) protective coating
2. (3) electrical protection
3. (4) sacrificial protection
4. (5) using alloys of iron
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(a) Use substitute materials
• In the past, people used iron to make window frames. However, iron is easily rusted. Nowadays,
people use aluminium to make window frames.
• However, we do not use aluminium to replace all iron articles (especially the use of structural
material) because aluminium is softer and more expensive than iron.
(b) Protect iron from rusting:
. Protective coatings
(a) Painting, plastic coating, oil
Ø A layer of paint/ plastic/ oil prevents both water and air from reaching the metal.
Ø However, when the paint is scratched, the metal will be exposed to water and air, and rusting
occurs.
Ø Painting is not suitable for protecting moving parts of machines.
(b) Zinc-plating ( or galvanization )
Ø It means an iron object is coated with a layer of zinc.
Ø Zinc becomes the protective layer to protect the iron beneath from air and water.
Ø Not suitable for food container as zinc or zinc compounds are toxic.
Ø Even if the zinc coating is scratched, iron does not rust. It is because zinc is more reactive than
iron, zinc loses electrons more readily than iron. This is also called sacrificial protection.
(c) Tin-plating
Ø Food cans are usually made of iron or iron alloy (mild steel) with a cover of a thin layer of tin .
Ø The tin cans can be kept for long time provided that the tin layer is intact .
Ø Tin layer acts as a protective layer to protect iron from both oxygen and water.
Ø However, if the tin layer is scratched, then the iron will be exposed to air and water. Since iron
is more/ less reactive than tin, iron will rust rapidly.
Ø Tin and tin compounds are poisonous/ non-poisonous.
(d) (d) Electroplating
Ø A thin layer of other metal e.g. chromium is coated on the iron surface to prevent rusting.
Ø It also helps to give a shiny appearance.
3
. Cathodic protection
Ø The iron articles are connected to the negative terminal of the d.c. power supply.
Ø It prevents iron from losing electrons to become iron(II) ions.
Ø It is used to protect underground water pipes and storage tanks.
3. Sacrificial protection
A more reactive metal is connected or attached to the iron object. That reactive metal will lose
electrons more/ less (circle the answer) readily than iron, preventing iron from form iron(II) ion.
Examples:
Ø Galvanized iron
Ø Attaching zinc to ship hulls
Ø Connecting magnesium to underground iron water pipes
4. Alloys of iron
Ø Stainless steel is an alloy of iron. It is a mixture of carbon and other metals with iron.
Ø Stainless steel is corrosion resistant because the chromium(III) oxide formed on the surface is
tough and protect the iron from contacting with air and water.
Ø Alloying is the most expensive rust prevention method.
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Summary: Method of rust prevention
Method of Chemistry Advantage Disadvantage Typical
rust Example
prevention
Painting economical fall off easily fences
Coating with lasts long, more expensive coat hangers
plastic looks good than painting
Oiling or does not fall not ‘once and for Bicycle gear
greasing off like paint, all’,
has lubricating dirt would stick to
Act as protective layer
effect oil or
to prevent contact with
grease
air and water
Tin-plating tin is when the tin food cans
corrosion- coating is
resistant, damaged, rusting
tin ions are not will occur even
poisonous more quickly than
iron alone
Chromium- has a beautiful expensive water tap
plating shiny
appearance
Sacrificial Connect to a more an effective the ‘sacrificed’ Ship hulls
protection reactive metal which way of metal needs
loses electrons more protection replacement from
readily than iron time to time
Galvanizing Protective layer AND in case the zinc zinc ions are iron foil for
sacrificial protection coating is poisonous construction
damaged, the
iron is still
protected
Cathodic Connect to negative convenient not applicable to steel pier legs
protection terminal of battery, many underground water
supplying electrons to objects pipelines
iron and prevent it
from losing electrons
and rusting
Alloying alloy with chromium, has a beautiful Very expensive cookware
nickel and manganese appearance
to produce stainless a very effective
steel which is way of
corrosion resistant protection
