![]() ![]() Because of its low reactivity, a specific alloy of copper (90% copper and 10% nickel) is used for parts on boats that will be exposed to seawater, or as pipes to transport drinking water. It’s also very low in the reactivity series, a tool in chemistry that is a progression of metals arranged from highest to lowest reactivity to acids, water, extraction of metals from their ores, and other reactions. ![]() In fact, copper was such a big deal that we actually have a period in history called the Copper Age.Ĭopper is highly conductive to heat and electricity, it’s commonly used in electrical wiring for this reason. This, and the fact that copper is very soft and easy to work with, led to it being one of the first metals that people worked with in human history. ![]() It’s one of the few metals that occur naturally as a directly usable metal in nature, as opposed to being mined from an ore (although it can be created in other ways). The type of corrosion that ultimately breaks copper drinking pipes is called erosion corrosion and it only occurs due to exposure to flowing, turbulent water over a long period of time.Ĭommonly seen on old pennies, the famous, beautiful green “patina” can actually take up to 20 years to fully form. In a natural environment, copper is extremely reluctant to corrode. While some consider copper’s reaction as tarnish rather than oxidation, the metal still undergoes a similar “rusting” process. Copper is naturally brown and turns a shade of bright green as it corrodes. Does Copper Rust?Ĭopper does not rust, however, it does corrode. Here are a few of the most common metals and how they stand up against rust and corrosion. What sets certain metals apart, is the duration of time it takes for them to begin rusting or corroding. Other metals, including precious metals like gold and silver, can corrode in a similar way. Technically, only iron and alloys that contain iron can rust. Rust and the patina (weird green color) of copper are the visible results of the metals losing their electrons to the air. This is the metal’s role in metal corrosion. Oxidation is the opposite of reduction and is the name of the chemical reaction that occurs when a molecule loses an electron. This is oxygen’s role in metal corrosion. Reduction is the name of the chemical reaction that occurs when a molecule gains an electron. This process is called a redox reaction and is actually two chemical processes that happen at the same time: reduction and oxidation. The job of the water in the corrosion process is to accelerate the flow of electrons from the metal to the oxygen. What is Corrosion?Ĭorrosion occurs when an element that easily loses its electrons (like some metals) combines with an element that absorbs extra electrons (oxygen) and then comes into contact with an electrolyte solution (water). As stated previously, only iron or alloys that contain iron can rust, but other metals can corrode in a similar way. Rust forms when iron undergoes the process of oxidation but not all oxidation forms rust. ![]() Rust, commonly referred to as oxidation, occurs when iron or metal alloys that contain iron, such as steel, are exposed to oxygen and water for a long period of time. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |