Question

In an electric power plant, personnel monitor the${\mathbf{\text{O}}}_{\mathbf{\text{2}}}$ content of boiler feed water to prevent corrosion of the boiler tubes. Why does Fe corrode faster in steam and hot water than in cold water?

Short answer

The activation energy of the reactants is easier to obtain at higher temperatures, hence Fe corrodes quicker in high-temperature fluids or steam.

Step-by-step solution

Define chemical reaction

Chemical synthesis or, alternatively, chemical breakdown into two or more separate chemicals occurs when one component interacts with another to generate new material. These processes are known as chemical reactions, and they are generally irreversible until followed by other chemical reactions.

Explaining why Fe corrodes faster in steam and hot water than in cold water.

Iron metal is exposed to water and gases in boiler tubes, increasing the risk of corrosion. When there is a lot of water, Fe metal corrodes much faster than when there is little water. This is because there is more energy available to the corrosion reactants in hot water to obtain the activation energy required for the process to occur.

Therefore, the reactants have an easier time reaching the activation energy at higher temperatures, Fe corrodes faster in high-temperature fluids or steam.