Someone please help! I'm so confused.
I know acidic conditions accelerate the rate of corrosion but I don't quite understand why.
Is it because of this reaction:
Fe(s) + 2H+ -> Fe2+ + H2(g)
And because you have Fe2+, it will go on to react with something else and hence has corroded.
Or, is it because of this reaction:
O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e- -> 2H2O(l)
and because it has a higher reduction potential than the other equation (O2(g) + 2H2O + 4e- -> 4OH- ) it will occur preferentially and so the presence of H+ accelerates the rate of corrosion because the reaction is more likely to occur.
Or it is partly because of both reasons? Or is it none of these reasons and its something completely different? ahaha
Thank you to anyone who can help
I know acidic conditions accelerate the rate of corrosion but I don't quite understand why.
Is it because of this reaction:
Fe(s) + 2H+ -> Fe2+ + H2(g)
And because you have Fe2+, it will go on to react with something else and hence has corroded.
Or, is it because of this reaction:
O2(g) + 4H+ + 4e- -> 2H2O(l)
and because it has a higher reduction potential than the other equation (O2(g) + 2H2O + 4e- -> 4OH- ) it will occur preferentially and so the presence of H+ accelerates the rate of corrosion because the reaction is more likely to occur.
Or it is partly because of both reasons? Or is it none of these reasons and its something completely different? ahaha
Thank you to anyone who can help
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