Chemistry Project Report on “Corrosion”
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I, ____________ student of ___________________ is doing project report
entitled “Corrosion” being submitted to ___________________is an original piece
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Project Report on "Corrosion"
Introduction towards "Corrosion"
Project Report "Corrosion" : As soon as the metals are extracted from their ores,
the reverse process begins, i.e. nature tries to convert them back into the form in
which they occur. This is due to the attack of the gases present in the atmosphere
on the surface of the metal converting it into compounds such as oxides,
sulphides, carbonates sulphates etc.
Topic - Corrosion
Def. - The process of slowly eating away of the metal due to attack of the
atmospheric gases on the surface of the metal resulting into the formation of
compounds such as oxides, sulphides, carbonates and sulphates is called
corrosion.
Mechanism or theory of Corrosion
The most common example of corrosion is the rusting of iron. Rust is hydrated
ferric oxide, Fe2O3.xH2O. Some other example include tarnishing of silver,
development of green coating on copper and bronze etc.
Mechanism or Theory of Corrosion : The theory of corrosion can be explained
by taking the example of rusting of iron. The theory is called electrochemical
theory because it explains the formation of rust on the basis of the formation
of electrochemical cells on the surface of metal.
The formation of rust on the basis of this theory may be explained in the following
steps :
(i) The water vapours on the surface of the metal dissolve CO2 and O2 from the
air. Thus the surface of the metal is covered with the solution of CO 2 in water,
that is carbonic acid (H2CO3)
H2O + CO2 -------> H2 CO3
This acts as an electrolytic solution of the cell. The carbonic acid and water
dissociate to small extent as follows :
H2CO3 -------> 2H+ + CO23-
H2O -------> H+ + OH–
(ii) Iron in contact with the dissolved CO2 and O2 undergoes oxidation as follows
:
Fe -----------------------> Fe2+ + 2e- (Eo = 0.44V)
Thus the sites where the above reaction take place act as anodes. As a result of
the above reaction, iron is converted into ferrous (Fe2+) ions.
(iii) The electrons lost by iron are taken up by H+ ion present on the surface of
the metal which were produced by the dissociation of H2CO3 and H2O. Thus H+
ions are converted into H atoms.
H+ + e- --------------> H ---- 4
These H atom either react with the dissolved oxygen or oxygen from the air to
form water.
4H + O2 ---------> 2H2O ..5
Multiplying eqn. (4) with 4 and adding to eqn (5), the complete reduction reaction
may be written as
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- -------------> 2H2O (Eo red = 1.23 V) ..6
The dissolved oxygen may take up electrons directly to form OH- ion as follows:
O2 + 2H2O + e- ----------> 4OH- ..7
The sites where the above reactions take place act as cathodes.
Multiplying equations (3) by (2) and adding to equation (6)
2Fe(s) + O2(g) + 4H+ (aq) ---> 2Fe2+ (aq) + 2H2O(l); E0cell = 1.67V
It may be mentioned here that if water is saline, it helps in the flow of current in
the miniature cell and hence enhance the process of corrosion.
(iv) The ferrous ions formed react with the dissolved oxygen or oxygen from the
air to form ferric oxide as follows:
4Fe2+ + O2 + 4H2O ---> 2Fe2O3 + 8H+(aq)
Ferric oxide then undergoes hydration to form rust as follows :
Fe2O3 + x H2O ---> Fe2O3 . xH2O
Hydrated ferric oxide (Rust)
It may be noted that the rust is a non-sticking compound i.e., it does not stick to
the surface, it peels off exposing fresh iron surface for further rusting.
Factors which promote corrosion
The factors which promote corrosion are :
(i) Reactivity of the metal. More active metals are readily corroded.
(ii) Presence of impurities: Presence of impurities in metals enhances the chances
of corrosion. Pure metals do not corrode e.g. pure iron does not rust.
(iii) Presence of air and moisture. Air and moisture accelerate corrosion. Presence
of gases like SO2 and CO2 in air catalyze the process of corrosion. Iron when
placed in vacuum does not rust.
(iv) Stains in metals. Corrosion (e.g. rusting of iron) take place rapidly at bends,
scratches, nicks and cuts in the metal.
(v) Presence of electrolytes. Electrolytes, if presents, also increase the rate of
corrosion. For example, iron rusts faster in saline water than in pure water.
Prevention of corrosion
Corrosion can be prevented by a number of ways. Some of these are explained
below:
1. Barrier Protection :- The metal surface is not allowed to come in contact with
moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide. This can be achieved by the following
methods :
(i) The metal surface is coated with paint which keeps it out of contact with air,
moisture etc. till the paint layer develops cracks.
(ii) By applying film of oil and grease on the surface of the iron tool and machinery,
the rusting of iron can be prevented since it keep the iron surface away from
moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
(iii) The iron surface is coated with non-corroding metals such as nickel, chromium
aluminium, etc. (by electroplating) or tin, zinc, etc. (by dipping the iron article in the
molten metal). This again shuts out the supply of oxygen and water to iron surface.
(iv) The iron surface is coated with phosphate or other chemicals which give a tough
adherent insoluble film which does not allow air and moisture to come in contact
with iron surface.
2. Sacrificial Protection : - Sacrificial protection means covering the iron surface
with a layer of metal which is more active (electropositive) than iron and thus
prevents the iron from losing electrons. The more active metal loses electrons in
preference to iron and converts itself into ionic state. With the passage of time,
the more active metal gets consumed but so long as it present there, it will protect
the iron from rusting and does not allow even the nearly exposed surface of iron
to react. The metal which is most often used for covering iron with more active
metal is zinc and the process is called galvanization. The layer of zinc on the
surface of iron, when comes in contact with moisture, oxygen and carbon and
carbon-dioxide in air, a protective invisible thin layer of basic zinc carbonate
ZnCO3, Zn(OH)2 is formed due to which the galvanized iron sheets lose their
luster and also tends to protect it from further corrosion.
Iron can be coated with copper by electro-deposition from a solution of copper
sulphate or with tin by dipping into molten metal. Now if the coating is broken,
iron is exposed and iron being more active than both copper and tin, is corroded,
Here iron corrodes more rapidly than it does in the absence of tin.
At time, zinc, magnesium and aluminium powders mixed with paints provide
decorative protective coatings also.
3. Electrical Protection : - Cathodic Protection. The iron object to be protected
from corrosion is connected to a more active metal either directly or through a
wire. The iron object acts as cathode and the protecting metal acts as anode. The
anode gradually used up due to the oxidation of the metal to its ions due to loss
of electrons. Hydrogen ions collect at the iron cathode and prevent the rust
formation. The iron object gets protection from rusting as long as some of the
active metal is present. Metals widely used for protecting iron objects from
rusting are magnesium, zinc and aluminium which are called sacrificial anodes.
Magnesium is oftenly employed in the cathodic protection of iron pipes buried in
the moist soil, canals, storage tanks etc. Pieces of magnesium are buried along
the pipeline and connected to it by the wire.
4. Using anti-rust solutions : These are alkaline phosphate and alkaline chromate
solutions. The alkalinity prevents availability of hydrogen ions. In addition,
phosphate tends to deposit an insoluble protective film of iron phosphate on the
iron. These solutions are used in car radiators to prevent rusting of iron parts of
the engine.
