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Electrochemistry

Question
CBSEENCH12005943

What happens during corrosion of a metal? State the electrochemical basis of corrosion of iron.

Solution

Answer:

Corrosion slowly coats the surfaces of metallic objects with oxides or other salts of the metal.

Metal reacts with gases present in atmosphere to form surface compounds in corrosion. The electrochemical basis of corrosion of iron is as follows:



Iron in contact with the dissolved CO
2 and Oundergoes oxidation as follows:
Fe → Fe2+ + 2e E°oxidation = + 0.44 V

The elctrons lost by iron are taken up by the H
+ ions present on the surface of the metal which were produced by the dissociation of H2CO3 and H2O.

  H++e-  H4H + O2  2H2OO2+4H++4e-2H2O      [ E0red = 1.23 V]O2+2H2O+4e-4OH  2Fe+O2+4H+2Fe2+(aq)+2H2O(l)                                       [E0cell = 1.67 V]