Question

Which of the following statements concerning corrosion is(are) true? For the false statements, correct them. a. Corrosion is an example of an electrolytic process. b. Corrosion of steel involves the reduction of iron coupled with the oxidation of oxygen. c. Steel rusts more easily in the dry (arid) Southwest states than in the humid Midwest states. d. Salting roads in the winter has the added benefit of hindering the corrosion of steel. e. The key to cathodic protection is to connect via a wire a metal more easily oxidized than iron to the steel surface to be protected.

Short answer

a. False. Corrosion is an electrochemical process, not an electrolytic process. b. True. c. False. Steel rusts more easily in humid Midwest states than in the dry Southwest states. d. False. Salting roads accelerates corrosion, not hindering it. e. True.

Step-by-step solution

Statement a: Electrolytic process?

False. Corrosion is not an example of an electrolytic process but an example of an electrochemical process. It involves the transfer of electrons from one species to another without an external voltage source.

Statement b: Reduction of iron and oxidation of oxygen

True. Corrosion of steel involves the reduction of iron (Fe) to form iron oxide (rust), coupled with the oxidation of oxygen (O). The process looks like this: \[ 4Fe + 3O_{2} \rightarrow 2Fe_{2}O_{3} \]

Statement c: Rusting in dry and humid areas

False. Steel rusts more easily in humid Midwest states than in the dry (arid) Southwest states. The presence of water (humidity) promotes corrosion by providing an electrolyte that enables the flow of electrons between the anode and cathode regions on the metal surface.

Statement d: Salting roads to hinder corrosion

False. Salting roads in the winter does not hinder the corrosion of steel but instead accelerates it. The dissolved salts in water lower the freezing point, while also creating an electrolyte, thus increasing the rate of corrosion.

Statement e: Cathodic protection concept

True. The key to cathodic protection is to connect a metal that is more easily oxidized (sacrificial anode) than iron to the steel surface via a wire. This will cause the sacrificial anode to corrode preferentially, leaving the steel surface protected. Common examples of sacrificial anodes are zinc and magnesium.