EXPERIMENT 3: CORROSION

Figure 1: Sample image of Corrosion

Name: Jogi Nitesh Chand

Student ID: S11172685
Lab Session: Tuesday 2pm
Date: 27/10/2021
INTRODUCTION:
A natural process that transform a purified metal into a more chemically firm such as
hydroxides or oxides are referred to as corrosion. Corrosion is where a metal for most cases a
moderately or slowly destructed by chemicals and the different chemical reactions with the
environment. The most common types of corrosion is a result of electrochemical reactions.
(What is Corrosion? 2021) Corrosion can be costly at times and because of corrosion, oil
pipelines shatter, buildings and even bridges can crumble and fall to pieces and in worst cases
it can lead to flooding of bathrooms. There are various types of corrosion however, when
atoms on the same surface are oxidised this is when general corrosion occurs and the whole
metal surface is damaged for some reason. (What is Corrosion and How to prevent it? - A Full
Guide - Engineering Choice, 2021)

Moreover, there are a number of ways whereby corrosion can be prevented or slowed down.
For most cases, galvanising of metals is one of the many ways to prevent corrosion.
Galvanising of metals is a process whereby metals with high reactivity are used for coating
other metals that are easily corroded. Zinc metal is a good coating metal as it has a quite high
level of reactivity. (What is a Reactivity Series? - 2021) When metals are coated, it does not
mean that corrosion will not occur, however it will slow down the rate at which the metal will
corrode. On that note, for corrosion to take place two main components that are necessary are
water and oxygen (air).
Furthermore, anodic protection is another way preventive measure against corrosion. This is a
process which involves the coating of a metal with a less active metal. For instance, iron can
be coated with a less reactivity metal such as tin. Since tin will not corrode it will protect the
iron from corrosion. Hence, this experiment will be looking into depth of corrosion
specifically metal reactivity, corrosion and its physical condition and not forgetting corrosion
chemistry.

PROCEDURE
A. Metal Reactivity
From the simulation, four different metals were given and these four metals were respectively
zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu). By clicking onto the respective metals and
clicking the “continue” key led us to four different beakers which contained four different
solution of Zn (NO3)2, Fe (NO3)2, Pb (NO3)2 and Cu (NO3)2. After selecting the appropriate
metals, clicking on “remove” key will take us to the molecular scale and from the molecular
scale our observation of how the different metals reacted in the aqueous solutions was noted.
B. Corrosion and Physical Conditions
Each nails (containing iron) were placed in each of the four test tube respectively. Using a
funnel, an adequate amount of distilled water was added to the first test tube. In a beaker, a
small amount of table salt (sodium chloride) along with some distilled water was thoroughly
mixed and was added into the second test tube.
Moreover, a funnel was used to transfer freshly boiled distilled water into the third test tube
as it contained less dissolved gases from the air. A small amount of edible oil was added to
the third test tube using a pipette. The layer of the oil prevented the air present in the test tube
to dissolve in the water using spatula spoon.
Furthermore, calcium chloride was added to the fourth test tube which absorbed the water
vapour that was present in the air. The test tubes were then sealed with stoppers and was left
for a few days.
C. Corrosion Chemistry
Three nail (iron) was placed in three different samples. One of the sample consisted of iron
that was in contact with silver, the second sample consisted of iron that was in contact with
iron oxide and the last sample consisted of iron that was a pure iron.
Sufficient amount of hot water was poured in a beaker. Agar gel was then added into the
beaker of hot water. The oxidant KNO3 (potassium nitrate) was then added to the beaker
followed by a drop of a pH indicator known as phenolphthalein.
Furthermore, the mixture was thoroughly stirred to ensure the inco-operation of all the
elements. After thoroughly mixing, the solution was then poured into each of the glass
samples containing the iron samples and was left for a period of 48 hours.
RESULTS
Zn(NO3)2 Fe(NO3)2 Pb(NO3)2 Cu(NO3)2
Zn NR Metal colour faded Zinc metal Partially corroded/changed
turned partially colour from silver to rusty
darker brown
Fe NR NR Partially Partially corroded/
changed colour changed colour from silver
to black to rusty brown
Pb NR NR NR Partially corroded/changed
colour from black – rusty
brown
Cu NR NR NR NR

DISCUSSION
A. Metal Reactivity
From the simulation result that was obtained, it is quite evident that zinc (Zn) was the metal
which reacted with most of the solution whereas copper (Cu) was the metal which reacted the
least with the solutions i.e. copper had no reaction with the solution.
According to the increasing reactivity, copper was the least reactive followed by lead and
iron while zinc had the most reactivity out of all the given metals in this experiment.
Cu < Pb < Fe < Zn
In this case, zinc will be used to coat the Iron Gate since Zn is a metal which reacts at a
slower rate. The process of coating a metal with another metal of high reactivity is known as
Galvanising. Galvanising of metals are carried out to prevent the metals from rusting when
exposed to environmental factors.
The reactivity of metal tells us the rate at which metals react/corrode. The reactivity of metals
can also help us to determine whether a metal will restore another metal in a compound.
Reducing agents also known as reductants are elements that undergo oxidation in a chemical
reaction i.e. the element loses electrons.
Example:
Na+ + Cl-  NaCl
Half reactions: Oxidation – Na+ + e-  Na
Reduction – Cl-  Cl + e-
B. Corrosion and Physical Conditions
Half redox equation:
Fe(s)  Fe2+ (aq) + 2e-
O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) + 4e-  4OH- (aq)
Net redox equation:
2Fe (s) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l)  2Fe (OH) 2 (aq)
Three important components needed to initiate the rusting process are water, oxygen and salt.
Water and oxygen works hand-in-hand whereby the metals react with both water and oxygen
to form hydrated iron (III) oxides, which we see as rust. On the other hand, salt acts as an
enzyme in this case as it speeds up the rate of corrosion.
Furthermore, in the first and second test tube the nails were observed to be in contact with
oxygen (air) and water (salty water). It was covered in rust. However, no rust was formed in
the third and fourth test tube. In the third test tube, the nail was in contact with water but
there was no contact with air. On that note, it was observed that in the fourth test tube, there
were no water. Only dry air was present. In order for the rusting process to take place both
water and air must be present.

Figure 2: Result Observation of Corrosion and Physical Conditions

 C. Corrosion chemistry
The blue region of the nail indicates the presence of iron ions and this is due to corrosion
whereas the pinkish purple region of the nail highlights the hydroxide ions (OH-) which is
also due to corrosion.
Different chemical species was formed in each region. For instance, Fe2+ was the species
formed in the blue region of the nail whereas OH- was the species formed in the pink (purple)
region of the nail.
For the first sample of the experiment, a nail was partially coated with silver and a few
observations were made. It was observed that the nail had a mixture of blue and pinkish
purple colouration and this colouration was all due to corrosion.

Figure 3: Result Observation for Corrosion Chemistry

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, corrosion is common in today’s era and it can be problematic at times. As
mentioned earlier corrosion is a result of electrochemical reactions. When metals are exposed
to physical conditions or environmental factors such water and air, the process of corrosion is
somehow accelerated. However, in the absence of this two main components, corrosion
cannot occur therefore, there will be no reaction to the particular metals.
REFERENCE
 Engineering Choice. 2021. What is Corrosion and How to prevent it? - A Full Guide -
Engineering Choice. [Online] Available at:
<https://www.engineeringchoice.com/corrosion/> [Accessed 28 October 2021].

 ECS. 2021. What is Corrosion? [Online] Available at:

<https://www.electrochem.org/corrosion-science/> [Accessed 28 October 2021].

 safeopedia.com. 2021. What is a Reactivity Series? - Definition from Safeopedia.

[Online] Available at: <https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/734/reactivity-series>
[Accessed 28 October 2021].