MDB 4423: Corrosion Engineering

Assignment 1

Due Date: Total Mark: 50

Name:

1) Indicate whether the statement is True of False. Briefly show your reasoning.
[6 marks]
i. During an anodic reaction, electrons are released.
ii. During a cathodic reaction, oxidation occurs.
iii. The valence state of a metal decreases when it is corroded.
iv. Oxygen reduction cannot occur in acid solutions.
v. Corrosion reactions can be divided into oxidation and reduction reactions.
vi. Electrochemical reactions can be identified by the absence of electron transfer.

2) Discuss the statement that corrosion is a natural phenomenon, reverse

metallurgy in reverse. State 4 criteria for a corrosion process to occur. [12
marks]
3) a. Write the possible oxidation and reduction half –reactions that occur when
Iron is immersed in each of the following solutions:
i. HCl [3 marks]
ii. Natural water (water with presence of dissolved oxygen) [3 marks]
b. Discuss with the relation to the rusting process of iron the difference
between chemical and electrochemical reactions. [5 marks]

4) From thermodynamic data, calculate the tendency for corrosion to occur in the
following metal-electrolyte systems. (Assume standard state for all systems).
For each case, write the overall cell reaction indicating the spontaneous
direction [9 marks]
i. Tin in hydrochloric acid
ii. Copper in sulfuric acid
iii. Cobalt in a mixture of hydrochloric and sulfuric acids

5) Write Electrochemical equations for the oxidation and reduction processes

which occur during: [12 marks]
i. The corrosion of aluminium by air-free sulfuric acid
ii. Corrosion of iron in aerated sulfuric acid containing ferric sulphate
iii. Corrosion of copper in aerated sulfuric acid containing ferric sulphate
iv. Corrosion of nickel in seawater
v. Corrosion of iron in air-free ferric chloride solution
vi. The uniform corrosion of a 50% iron-chromium alloy in aerated hydrochloric
acid