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What effect does the environment have on corrosion?

2007

Hi, I'm Penny I come from nsw Australia and I'm doing a year 8 assignment for science on corrosion and what metal will corrode fastest. My assignment includes research and an at home experiment. I just wanted to know what effect does the environment have on corrosion and what the main factors that speed up the process are.

thanks heaps

kind regards,

Penny G.
Student - Newcastle, NSW, Australia

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2007

Hi Penny,

Corrosion accelerates with temperature ... that's a main point.

The other thing is that in, say, Melbourne (which is close to the sea) some metals will corrode much faster than, say, in Alice Springs because the air will contain humidity AND the presence of salt, from the sea.

Which metal corrodes fastest? I'd guess, assume that ordinary mild steel would corrode easily BUT there are tables to show the 'nobleness' of metals ... with gold and platinum at the top ... with zinc and magnesium being at the bottom....which is why many outboard engines have sacrificial anodes of those latter metals so that they, and not the motor, will preferentially corrode.

Goest thou to GOOGLE and type in 'metal corrosion tables' or something like that to SEE those charts.

I hope that this will help you .. if so, send us a pic of a kangaroo.

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