In: Mechanical Engineering
Explain the following in corrosion
(a) Redox
(b) Electrolyte
a) Redox corrosion
Corrosion of metals is the most common type of corrosion and is a process involving an exchange of electrons between two substances, one of them being the metal. In this process, the metal usually loses electrons, becoming oxidized, while the other substance gains electrons, becoming reduced. For this reason, corrosion is classified as an oxidation-reduction or redox reaction. While many redox reactions are extremely important and beneficial to society (for example, those
that are used to make batteries), the redox reactions involved in corrosion are destructive.
(b) Electrolyte corrosion
Electrochemical corrosion takes place in the presence of an
electrolyte, which is simply a fluid conducting electricity, by
migration of ions. Water generally contains mineral ions, hydrogen
ions and hydroxyl ions. In this case of atmospheric corrosion,
humidity in the air does the job of an electrolyte.