How does an acidic environment accelerate corrosion??? (1 Viewer)

[Marina89]

So confused! Different books give different reasons and different equations to support as well.

Also, what are some other methods of cleaning/stabilising artefacts other than electrolysis and removing concretions?

Thanks

 

[annabackwards]

Acidic environment accelerate rusting because of the following equilibrium reaction:
Fe (s) + 2H+ (aq) <--> Fe2+(aq) + H2 (g)
Applying Le Chatelier’s principle, an increase in acidity, which is H+ ions, would cause the equilibrium to shift to the right. This would lead to a faster corrosion of the iron.

But i too have seen diffferent ways of it being explained, i guess you should just stick to wha you're most comfortable with

Leeching can be used to clean/stabilise artefacts. It takes a long time to work though.

 

[Marina89]

That helps a lot, thank you!

 

[annabackwards]

Glad i helped

 

[pedrogomez]

I can't find this same explanantion anywhere on the web.... are you sure it's correct??

 

[golgo13]

It is, please refer to the rusting equation u will see H+ is part of the process and using le chateliers principle you will get a shift in eq