The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Rate of oxidation on metals

I am writing a ten page paper on this question "How is the rate of oxidation affected by the type of solution in which metal objects stand?". The problem is I know nothing about the question. I was wondering if anyone could help me out.

Angelina E
Student - Augusta, Georgia, United States
2006

---

2006

Please start by paraphrasing the question to make sure you understand it, Angelina. If you can't, you need to talk to the teacher and insist that you be brought to the point of at least completely understanding the question. When you don't understand a question, you shouldn't spend a single sentence trying to answer it, let alone 10 pages.

If you come back and paraphrase the question in a way that demonstrates that you clearly understand it, I'll be glad to help you start answering it! Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

---

2006

Hi Angela,

That teacher of yours sounds like a TWIT ... What a peculiarly stupid question.... or a very badly phrased question, eh?

The rate of oxidation DEPENDS on a) the temperature and on b) the concentration (high or low pH) of the liquid and, of course, on c) just WHAT metal are you talking about.

Go and have a gander at the tables on the nobility of metals ... Platinum is near the top and Magnesium is near the bottom.

Ted knows FAR more about this subject than I do and his polite answer hit the mark.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).