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ELECTROCHEMICAL
NATURE OF AQUEOUS
CORROSION

2 John Fritz S. Amonelo

4EE-B
●For metallic materials, the corrosion process is normally
electrochemical, i.e., a chemical reaction in which there is
transfer of electrons from one chemical species to another.
●Aqueous corrosion is an electrochemical reaction of
materials due to a wet environment, resulting in the
deterioration of the material and its vital properties.
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The hypothetical metal M that has a valence number of n (or
n valence electrons) may experience oxidation according
to the reaction:

M → Mn+ + ne-

in which M becomes an "n+" positively charged ion and in

the process losses its "n" valence electrons (e-); is used to
symbolize an electron.
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Other examples in which oxidation are:

Fe → Fe2+ + 2e-
Al → Al3+ + 3e-

The site at which oxidation takes place is called the anode;

oxidation is sometimes called an anodic reaction.
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The electrons generated from each metal atom that is
oxidized must be transferred to and become a part of
another chemical species in what is termed a
reduction reaction.

Or a metal may be totally reduced from an ionic to a

neutral metallic state according to:

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Nn+ + ne- → N
For example, some metals undergo corrosion which
have a high concentration of hydrogen (H) ions; the
H ions are reduced as follows:

2H+ + 2e- → H2

The location at which reduction occurs is called the

cathode.
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Corrosion or anodic reaction of metals:

M → Mn+ + ne- (general corrosion reaction of

a metal)
Fe → Fe2+ + 2e- (iron corrosion)
Al → Al+3 + 3e- (aluminum corrosion)
Cu → Cu+2 + 2e- copper corrosion
 Common cathodic reactions:

near the surface of seawater:

O2 + H2O + 4e- → 4OH-
in de-aerated water:
2H2O + 2e- → H2 + 2OH-
in aerated acids:
O2 + 4H+ + 4e+ → 4H2O-
in general:
N+n + ne- → N
 Corrosion of Fe in water:

In aerated water (oxygen is dissolved):

The nail in the aerated tube

-Anodic Reaction:
Fe → Fe+2 + 2e-
-Cathodic reaction (water with dissolved O2):
O2 + H2O + 4e- → 4OH-
-Overall:
2Fe + O2 + H2O → 2Fe(OH)2
In de-aerated water (oxygen is removed): +

• The nail in the de-aerated tube

-Anodic Reaction:
Fe → Fe+2 + 2e-
-Cathodic reaction (water without dissolved O2):
2H2O + 2e- → H2 + 2OH-
-Overall:
Fe + 2H2O → 2Fe(OH)2 + H2
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