Gen Chemistry II (CHEM 102)

Dr. Rabeay Hassan

Nano-building, room F008

ryounes@zewailcity.edu.eg

rabeayy@gmail.com

2022
 Chapter 20

Electrochemistry
 Which of the following reactions is a redox reaction?
(a) K2CrO4 + BaCl2 → BaCrO4 + 2KCl
(b) Pb2+ + 2Br- → PbBr2
(c) Cu + S → CuS

A) (a) only
B) (b) only
C)
x (c) only
D) (a) and (c)
E) (b) and (c)

Which substance is the oxidizing agent in the following reaction?

Fe2S3 + 12HNO3 → 2Fe(NO3)3 + 3S + 6NO2 + 6H2O

A)
x HNO3
B) S
C) NO2
D) Fe2S3
E) H2O
 Outline

 Redox Reactions
 Balancing Oxidation–Reduction Reactions
 Galvanic/Voltaic Cells
 Standard Reduction Potentials
 Cell Potential, Electrical Work, and Free Energy
 Batteries
 Corrosion
 Electrolysis
 Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is the study of chemical processes that cause electrons to move.
This movement of electrons is called electricity, which can be generated by
movements of electrons from one element to another in a reaction known as an
oxidation-reduction ("redox") reaction.

Electrons are neither created nor destroyed in any chemical reaction.

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Oxidation - reduction
Oxidation is loss of electrons
Reduction is gain of electrons
Oxidation is always accompanied by reduction
The total number of electrons is kept constant

+7 +3 +2 +4

MnO4 + C2O42  Mn2+ + CO2

  2
MnO (aq)  Br (aq)  Mn (aq)  Br2 (aq)
4

Electrochemistry
Oxidizing Agents  An oxidizing agent, or oxidant, gains electrons
and is reduced in a chemical reaction.

Reducing Agents  A reducing agent, or reductant, loses electrons

and is oxidized in a chemical reaction.

Mg(s) + S(s)  Mg S(s)

oxidized reduced

0 0 +2 -2

Reducing Oxidizing Electrochemistry

Agent Agent
 Oxidation Numbers
Oxidation number is the number of electrons gained or lost by the element in
making a compound.
Oxidation number, the total number of electrons that an atom either gains or
loses in order to form a chemical bond with another atom.

Cu(s)+2Ag+(aq)→Cu2+(aq)+2Ag(s)

Cu+(aq) + Fe(s)→Fe3+(aq) + Cu(s)

Electrochemistry
 Assigning Oxidation Numbers
Elements in their elemental form have an oxidation number of 0.
The oxidation number of a monatomic ion is the same as its charge.
Oxygen has an oxidation number of 2, except in the peroxide ion, which has an
oxidation number of 1.
Hydrogen is 1 when bonded to a metal (NaH, Sodium hydride), and +1 when bonded
to a nonmetal.
Nonmetals tend to have negative oxidation numbers, although some are positive in
certain compounds or ions.
Fluorine always has an oxidation number of 1.
The other halogens have an oxidation number of 1 when they are negative. They can
have positive oxidation numbers, however; most notably in oxyanions.
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral compound is 0.
Electrochemistry
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion is the charge on the ion.
Balancing Redox Equations in
Acidic Solution

Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry
 Balancing Oxidation-Reduction Equations
1. Assign oxidation numbers to determine what is oxidized and what is reduced.
2. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
3. Balance elements in the equation other than O and H.
4. Balance the oxygen atoms by adding the appropriate number of water (H2O) molecules
to the opposite side of the equation.
5. Balance the hydrogen atoms (including those added in step 2 to balance the oxygen
atom) by adding H+ ions to the opposite side of the equation.
6. Add up the charges on each side. Make them equal by adding enough electrons (e-) to the
more positive side. (Rule of thumb: e- and H+ are almost always on the same side.)
7. The e- on each side must be made equal; if they are not equal, they must be multiplied by
appropriate integers (the lowest common multiple) to be made the same.
8. The half-equations are added together, cancelling out the electrons to form one
balanced equation. Common terms should also be cancelled out.
9. (If the equation is being balanced in a basic solution, through the addition of one more
step, the appropriate number of OH- must be added to turn the remaining H+ into water
molecules.)
10. Double check to make sure that everything is balanced.

Electrochemistry
 Balancing Redox Equations

Consider the reaction between MnO4 and C2O42:

MnO4(aq) + C2O42(aq)  Mn2+(aq) + CO2(aq)

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Balancing Redox Equations
First, we assign oxidation numbers:
+7 +3 +2 +4

MnO4 + C2O42  Mn2+ + CO2

Since the manganese goes from +7 to +2, it is reduced.
Since the carbon goes from +3 to +4, it is oxidized.

2 MnO4-(aq) + 5 H2C2O4(aq) + 16 H+ 10 CO2(g) + 2

Mn2+(aq) + 8 H2O(l)

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Balancing Redox Equations
C2O42  CO2

To balance the carbon, we add a coefficient of 2:

C2O42  2CO2

C2O42  2CO2

The oxygen is now balanced as well. To balance the charge, we must add
2 electrons to the right side:

C2O42  2CO2 + 2e

Electrochemistry
 Reduction Half-Reaction
MnO4  Mn2+

The manganese is balanced; to balance the oxygen, we must add 4 waters

to the right side:

MnO4  Mn2+ + 4H2O

MnO4  Mn2+ + 4H2O

To balance the hydrogen, we add

8H+ to the left side:

8H+ + MnO4  Mn2+ + 4H2O

Electrochemistry
 Reduction Half-Reaction
8H+ + MnO4  Mn2+ + 4H2O

To balance the charge, we add 5e to the left side:

5e + 8H+ + MnO4  Mn2+ + 4H2O

Combining the Half-Reactions

Now we evaluate the two half-reactions together:

C2O42  2CO2 + 2e

5e + 8H+ + MnO4  Mn2+ + 4H2O
To attain the same number of electrons on each side, we will multiply
the first reaction by 5 and the second by 2: Electrochemistry
 5C2O42  10CO2 + 10e
10e + 16H+ + 2MnO4  2Mn2+ + 8H2O

When we add these together, we get:

10e + 16H+ + 2MnO4 + 5C2O42  2Mn2+ + 8H2O + 10CO2 +10e

10e + 16H+ + 2MnO4 + 5C2O42  2Mn2+ + 8H2O + 10CO2 +10e

The only thing that appears on both sides are the electrons. Subtracting them,
we are left with:

16H+ + 2MnO4 + 5C2O42 2Mn2+ + 8H2O + 10CO2

Electrochemistry
Balancing Redox Equations
in Basic Solution

Electrochemistry
 Balancing Redox Equations in Basic
Solution
 If a reaction occurs in a basic solution, one can balance it as if it occurred
in acid.
 Once the equation is balanced, add OH to each side to “neutralize” the H+ in
the equation and create water in its place.
If this produces water on both sides,
you might have to subtract water from each side.

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Balancing Redox Equations in Basic Solution
Complete and balance this equation for a redox reaction that takes place in basic
solution:
CN(aq) + MnO4(aq)  CNO(aq) + MnO2(s) (basic solution)

+7 +2 -3 +4 +4 -3 -2

MnO-4 + CN- → MnO2 + CNO-

CN(aq)  CNO(aq) (Oxidation-half reaction)

CN(aq) + H2O(l)  CNO(aq) + 2 H+(aq) + 2 e

MnO4(aq)  MnO2(s) (Reduction-half reaction)

3 e + 4 H+(aq) + MnO4(aq)  MnO2(s) + 2 H2O(l)

Electrochemistry
 CN(aq) + H2O(l) + 2 OH(aq)  CNO(aq) + 2 H+(aq) + 2 e + 2 OH(aq)
3 e + 4 H+(aq) + MnO4(aq) + 4 OH(aq)  MnO2(s) + 2 H2O(l) + 4 OH(aq)

CN(aq) + H2O(l) + 2 OH(aq)  CNO(aq) + 2 H2O(l) + 2 e

3 e + 4 H2O(l) + MnO4(aq)  MnO2(s) + 2 H2O(l) + 4 OH(aq)

CN(aq) + 2 OH(aq)  CNO(aq) + H2O(l) + 2 e

3 e + 2 H2O(l) + MnO4(aq)  MnO2(s) + 4 OH(aq)

3 CN(aq) + 6 OH(aq)  3 CNO(aq) + 3 H2O(l) + 6 e

6 e + 4 H2O(l) + 2 MnO4(aq)  2 MnO2(s) + 8 OH(aq)

3 CN(aq) + H2O(l) + 2 MnO4(aq)  3 CNO(aq) + 2 MnO2(s) + 2 OH(aq)

CN(aq) + MnO4(aq)  CNO(aq) + MnO2(s) (basic solution)

Electrochemistry
 What is the coefficient of Fe3+ when the following equation is balanced?
CN- + Fe3+ → CNO- + Fe2+ (basic solution)
A) 1
B)
x 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

What is the coefficient of the permanganate ion when the following equation is
balanced?
MnO4- + Br- → Mn2+ + Br2 (acidic solution)
A) 1
B)
x 2
C) 3
D) 5
E) 4

Electrochemistry
Voltaic Cells

Electrochemistry
 Galvanic Cell or Voltaic Cells

anode cathode
oxidation reduction

spontaneous Electrochemistry

redox reaction
 Voltaic Cells

In spontaneous oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions,

electrons are transferred and energy is released.

A voltaic cell is an electrochemical cell that uses a chemical reaction to produce

electrical energy. The important parts of a voltaic cell: The anode is an electrode
where oxidation occurs. The cathode is an electrode where reduction occurs.

Electrochemistry
 Salt bridge
The salt bridge allows charge transfer through the solution and prevents
mixing.

we use a salt bridge, usually a U-shaped tube that contains a salt solution, to keep
the charges balanced.
Cations move toward the cathode.
Anions move toward the anode.

Salt bridge or porous disk allows ions to flow without extensive

mixing of the solutions.
Salt bridge – contains a strong electrolyte held in a gel–like matrix.
Porous disk – contains tiny passages that allow hindered flow of
ions.
Electrochemistry
 Which transformation could take place at the anode of an electrochemical
cell?
A) Cr2O72- → Cr2+
B) F to F-
C) O2 to H2O
D) HAsO2 to As
E)
x None of the above could take place at the anode.

Which transformation could take place at the cathode of an electrochemical

cell?
A) MnO2 → MnO4-
B) Br2 → BrO3-
C) NO → HNO2
x HSO4- → H2SO3
D)
E) Mn2+ → MnO4-

Electrochemistry
Cell Potentials Under Standard
Conditions

Electrochemistry
 Electromotive Force (emf)
• Likewise, electrons only
spontaneously flow one way in a
redox reaction—from higher to
lower potential energy.

• The driving force that allows

electrons to flow is called the
electromotive force (emf) or the
cell potential (Ecell).

• Emf or the Ecell is the potential

difference between the anode and
cathode in a cell.
E°cell = E°(cathode) – E°(anode)

Electrochemistry
emf is an intensive property
Standard Cell Potentials

= +0.34 V  (0.76 V)
= +1.10 V

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 How are Standard Reduction Potentials Experimentally
Determined

Standard reduction or oxidation potentials can be

determined using a SHE (standard hydrogen electrode)

Electrochemistry
 Standard Hydrogen Electrode
•Their values are referenced to a
standard hydrogen electrode
(SHE).
•By definition, the reduction
potential for hydrogen is 0 V:

2 H+(aq, 1M) + 2e  H2(g, 1 atm)

Reference Electrode
Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Standard Cell Potentials
The cell potential at standard conditions can be found through this
equation:

 = Ered
Ecell  (cathode)  Ered (anode)
Because cell potential is based on the potential energy per unit of charge, it is
an intensive property.

EAnode = 0.76 V
Ecathode = +0.34 V

= +0.34 V  (0.76 V)
Electrochemistry
= +1.10 V
 Standard Cell Potential

Fe3+(aq) + Cu(s)  Cu2+(aq) + Fe2+(aq)

2Fe3+ + 2e–  2Fe2+ ; E° = 0.77 V (cathode)

Cu  Cu2+ + 2e– ; E° = 0.34 V (anode)

Balanced Cell Reaction:

Cu + 2Fe3+  Cu2+ + 2Fe2+

Cell Potential: E°cell

E°cell = E°(cathode) – E°(anode)

E°cell = 0.77 V – 0.34 V = 0.43 V Electrochemistry

Strengths of Oxidizing and
Reducing Agents

Electrochemistry
 Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
The greater the difference between
the two, the greater the voltage of
the cell.

Voltage as an
intensive property

An intensive property does not

depend on the total mass, or total
volume.

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

The more positive the Eo, the better oxidizing agent is the oxidized form (e.g., MnO4-).
Standard Reduction Potentials
The more negative the Eo, the better reducing agent is the reduced form (e.g., Zn).

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
• The strongest oxidizers have
the most positive reduction
potentials.
• The strongest reducers have
the most negative reduction
potentials.
• The more positive the
value of Ered the greater
the tendency for reduction
under standard
conditions.

Electrochemistry
+
Li is the strongest reducing agent among the substances listed
Determining Spontaneity of (Redox)
reactions

Electrochemistry
 Determining Spontaneity

 = Ered
Ecell  (cathode)  Ered (anode)

•A positive value of E°cell indicates a spontaneous process

•A negative value of E°cell indicates a nonspontaneous process

Electrochemistry
 Determining Spontaneity
Use Table 20.1 to determine whether the following reactions are spontaneous under
standard conditions.
(a) Cu(s) + 2 H+(aq)  Cu2+(aq) + H2(g)
(b) Cl2(g) + 2 I(aq)  2 Cl(aq) + I2(s)

We need to calculate the standard emf, E , for the

reaction. If a reaction is spontaneous, its standard
emf must be a positive number.

Ecell = Ered (cathode)  Ered (anode)



nonspontaneous reaction

Cu2+(aq) + H2(g)  Cu(s) + 2 H+(aq) E = +0.34 V

Thus, Cu2+ can be reduced by H2.
Electrochemistry
 (b) Cl2(g) + 2 I(aq)  2 Cl(aq) + I2(s)

Ecell = Ered (cathode)  Ered (anode)

E = (1.36 V)  (0.54 V) = +0.82 V

Because the value of E is positive, this

reaction is spontaneous and could be used to
build a voltaic cell.

Electrochemistry
Which of the following reactions will occur spontaneously as written?
A) 3Fe2+ (aq) + Cr3+ (aq) → Cr (s) + 3Fe3+ (aq)
B) 2Cr3+ (aq) + 3Sn2+ (aq) → 3Sn4+ (aq) + 2Cr (s)
C) Sn4+ (aq) + Fe2+ (s) → Sn2+ (aq) + Fe (s)
D) Sn2+ (aq) + Fe2+ (s) → Sn4+ (aq) + Fe3+ (aq)
x 2Cr (s) + 3Fe2+ (s) → 3Fe (s) + 2Cr3+ (aq)
E)

Ecell = Ered (cathode)  Ered (anode)

Electrochemistry
Emf, Free Energy, and the
Equilibrium Constant

∆Go = ∆Ho - T∆So

K = e G/RT

Electrochemistry
Emf, Free Energy, and the Equilibrium Constant
 Keq is related to reaction favorability and so to ∆Gorxn.
 The larger the value of K the more negative the value of ∆Gorxn
∆Gorxn = - RT lnK

where R = 8.31 J/K•mol

Under standard conditions,

G = nFE

 n is the number of moles of electrons Electrochemistry

 F is a constant, the Faraday: 1 F = 96,485 C/mol = 96,485 J/V-mol
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
 The Nernst Equation
G = nFE

G = G + RT ln Q
(Q) is the reaction quotient

• This means
nFE = nFE + RT ln Q

Dividing both sides by nF, we get the Nernst equation:

RT
E = E  ln Q
nF
or, using base-10 logarithms, 2.303RT Electrochemistry
E = E  log Q
nF
 Nernst Equation
At room temperature (298 K),
1 F = 96,485 C/mol = 96,485
J/V-mol
2.303RT
F = 0.0592

Thus, the equation becomes

0.0592
E = E  log Q
n

Cell Potential under non-standard conditions

Calculating concentrations in a voltaic cell
The Nernst equation helps us understand why the emf Electrochemistry
of a
voltaic cell drops as the cell discharges.
 Consider an electrochemical cell based on the reaction:
2H+ (aq) + Sn (s) → Sn2+ (aq) + H2 (g)
Which of the following actions would not change the measured cell potential?

A) lowering the pH in the cathode compartment

B)
x addition of more tin metal to the anode compartment
C) increasing the tin (II) ion concentration in the anode compartment
D) increasing the pressure of hydrogen gas in the cathode compartment
E) Any of the above will change the measured cell potential.

Electrochemistry
 Using Standard Reduction Potentials to Calculate G and K
(a) Use the standard reduction potentials in Table 20.1 to calculate the standard free-energy change, G,
and the equilibrium constant, K, at 298 K for the reaction

(b)What are the values of E, G, and K when the reaction is written in this way?

Where F = 96,485 C/mol , and R = 8.31 J/K•mol

E = (1.23 V)  (0.80 V) = 0.43 V

Electrochemistry

G is a large negative value

 Because G is a large negative number, which means the reaction is
thermodynamically very favorable, we expect K to be large.

(b) The overall equation is the same as that in part (a), multiplied by. The half-reactions are

E = +0.43 V

G = (2)(96,485 J/V-mol)(+0.43 V) = 83 kJ/mol

Electrochemistry
Keq
Calculating Concentrations in a Voltaic
Cell

Electrochemistry
 Concentration Cells
E = E  0.0592
log Q
n

Notice that the Nernst equation implies that a cell could be created that has
the same substance at both electrodes. Therefore, as long as the
concentrations are different, E will not be 0. For such a cell, Ecell would be 0,
but Q would not.

Electrochemistry
 Calculating Concentrations in a Voltaic Cell
If the potential of a Zn-H+ cell is 0.45 V at 25 C when [Zn2+] = 1.0 M and PH2 = 1.0
atm, what is the H+ concentration?

0.0592
E = E  log Q
n
n =2
Zn(s) + 2 H+(aq)  Zn2+(aq) + H2(g)

Electrochemistry
A voltaic cell whose cell reaction involves can be used to measure pH. A pH meter is a
specially designed voltaic cell with a voltmeter calibrated to read pH directly.
 Determining pH Using a Concentration Cell
A voltaic cell is constructed with two hydrogen electrodes. Electrode 1 has PH2 = 1.00
atm and an unknown concentration of H+(aq). Electrode 2 is a standard hydrogen
electrode (PH2 = 1.00 atm, [H+] = 1.00 M). At 298 K the measured cell potential is 0.211
V, and the electrical current is observed to flow from electrode 1 through the external
circuit to electrode 2. What is the pH of the solution?

pH = log[H+] = log(2.7  104) = 3.57

Electrochemistry
Electrolysis

Electrochemistry
 Electrolysis
Passing an electric current through ionic substances that are molten or in aqueous
solution, breaks them down into elements.

Electrolysis is a technique that uses

direct electric current to drive non-
spontaneous chemical reactions.

Electrolysis is used extensively in

metallurgical processes, such as in
extraction or purification
(electrorefining) of metals from ores or
compounds and in deposition of metals
from solution (electroplating).

Electrochemistry
Batteries

Electrochemistry
Applications using Batteries

Electrochemistry
 Batteries
Batteries
•A battery is an electrochemical cell or series of cells that
produces an electric current.
•Batteries convert stored chemical energy into electrical
energy
•Reaction between chemicals take place
•Consisting of electrochemical cells
•Contains
–Electrodes
–Electrolyte

An electric battery is a source of electric power

consisting of one or more electrochemical cells with
external connections for powering electrical devices.

Electrochemistry
 Lead–Acid Battery

•Anode: Porous lead

•Cathode: Lead-dioxide
•Electrolyte: Sulfuric acid, 6 molar H2SO4

Electrochemistry
 Lead–Acid Battery

The following half-cell reactions take place inside the cell during discharge:
At the anode:
Pb (s) + HSO4– → PbSO4 + H+ + 2e–
At the cathode:
PbO2 + 3H+ + HSO4– + 2e– → PbSO4 + 2H2O
Overall:
Pb + PbO2 +2H2SO4 → 2PbSO4 + 2H2O

Recharging the Lead–Acid Battery

Electrochemistry
Alkaline Batteries

Electrochemistry
 Alkaline Batteries
 Alkaline batteries name came from the electrolyte
 Anode: zinc powder form
 Cathode: manganese dioxide
 Electrolyte: potassium hydroxide

• The half-reactions are:

Zn(s) + 2OH−(aq) → ZnO(s) + H2O(l) + 2e− [E ° = -1.28 V]
2MnO2(s) + H2O(l) + 2e− → Mn2O3(s) + 2OH−(aq) [E ° = 0.15 V]
• Overall reaction:
Zn(s) + 2MnO2(s) → ZnO(s) + Mn2O3(s) [E ° = 1.43 V]

Electrochemistry
 Nickel-Cadmium Battery

NiCd battery or NiCad battery

•Anode: Cadmium hydroxide, Cd(OH)2
•Cathode: Nickel hydroxide, Ni(OH)2
•Electrolyte: Potassium hydroxide, KOH

• The half-reactions are:

Cd+2OH- → Cd(OH)2+2e-
2NiO(OH)+Cd+2e- →2Ni(OH)2+2OH- 1.2V
• Overall reaction: Reduction of nickel oxyhydroxide

2NiO(OH) + Cd+2H2O→2Ni(OH)2+Cd(OH)2

Electrochemistry
 Lithium-Ion Batteries
 Anode: Graphite
 Cathode: Lithium /Metal oxide
(e.g. Li/manganese dioxide, or lithium-cobalt oxide (LiCoO2)

 Electrolyte: mixture of lithium salts

• Lithium ion battery half cell reactions

CoO2 + Li+ + e- ↔ LiCoO2 (Eº = 1V)
Li+ + C6+ e- ↔ LiC6 (Eº ~ -3V)
• Overall reaction during discharge
CoO2 + LiC6 ↔ LiCoO2 + C6
Ecell = E+ - E- = 1 - (-3.01) = 4V
lithium ions move from the anode to cathode
during discharge, and from cathode to anode
when charging.
Electrochemistry
John B. Goodenough
 Lithium-Ion Batteries
• Positive electrode: Lithiated form of a transition metal oxide (lithium
cobalt oxide-LiCoO2 or lithium manganese oxide LiMn2O4)

• Negative electrode: Carbon (C),

usually graphite (C6)
•Electrolyte: solid lithium-salt electrolytes
(LiPF6, LiBF4, or LiClO4)
and organic solvents (ether)

Electrochemistry
Fuel Cells

Electrochemistry
 Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Fuel cells are not batteries because they are not self-contained systems—the
fuel must be continuously supplied to generate electricity.

•Fuel (H2) is first transported to the anode of the cell

•Fuel undergoes the anode reaction

•Anode reaction splits the fuel into H+ (a proton) and e-

•Protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode by PEM

•Electrons can not pass through the electrolyte, and must

travel through an external circuit which creates a usable
electric current

•Protons and electrons reach the cathode, and undergo the

cathode reaction

Oxidation Reduction
2H2  4H+ + 4e- 4H+ + O2 + 4e-  2H2O Electrochemistry
Eo = 0.00V Eo = 0.68V
Corrosion

Electrochemistry
 Corrosion
• Corrosion is an electrochemical reaction
– ½ reaction at the anode: M Mn+ + ne-
– Possible ½ reactions at the cathode:
2H+ + 2e- H2
Solutions: H2O + e- ½ H2 + OH-
½ O2 + 2H+ + 2e- 2OH-
• Corrosion requires both oxygen and water

Free energy of formation for some metal oxides at 25oC (KJ/mole)

Al2O3 Cr2O3 Ti2O Fe2O3 MgO NiO Cu2O Ag2O Au2O3

1576 1045 853 740 568 217 145 13 +163

As oxidation of most metals cannot be avoided the key is toElectrochemistry

form a
protective oxide layer on the surface
Corrosion of Iron (Rusting)

Electrochemistry
 Corrosion of Iron (Rusting)
Rusting of iron requires both oxygen and water, and the process can be accelerated by other
factors such as pH, presence of salts, contact with metals more difficult to oxidize than
iron, and stress on the iron. Rust is a hydrate of iron(III) oxide with a variable amount of
water of hydration (Fe2O3 . xH2O).

Electrochemistry

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Corrosion Prevention
Galvanized iron is iron coated with Zinc. Zn (anode) will corrode at the
expense of Fe

Alloying the base metal can improve the oxidation resistance

 E.g. the oxidation resistance of Fe can be improved by alloying withElectrochemistry
Cr, Al, Ni
 …Corrosion Prevention
Basic goal   protect the metal  avoid localized corrosion
 Avoid electrical / physical contact between metals with very different electrode
potentials (avoid formation of a galvanic couple)
 Modify the base metal by alloying
 Protect the surface by various means
 Modify the fluid in contact with the metal
 Remove a cathodic reactant (e.g. water)
 Add inhibitors which from a protective layer
 Cathodic protection
 Use a sacrificial anode (as a coating or in electrical contact)
 Use an external DC source in connection with a inert/expendable electrode

Electrochemistry
The End of Chapter 20

Electrochemistry