“Corrosion”

Corrosion of a metal involves the metal being attacked by the surrounding fluid to produce
metal oxides or salts

In aqueous solution these reactions take place more readily in particular pH ranges with
production of hydrogen.

In nature metals are usually found as relatively stable compounds (eg. oxides, carbonates and
silicates) which are converted into metal by a process of chemical reduction

Consequently most commonly used metals are reactive and the process of corrosion may be
defined as the reversion of metal to a more stable, oxidized state.