Electrochemistry IV AGlassElectrode

forMeasuringpH
Very thin glass membrane is
permeable to H+ ions

When placed in a solution with a

pH different from internal
reference solution, electric
potential difference develops

Glass electrode and reference

electrode become an
electrochemical cell

Ecell measured by voltmeter is

ElectrochemicalPhenomena 1 calibrated in pH units 2

Noble Metals
Somemetals,suchascopper,gold,silverandplatinum,
Corrosion
• CorrosionͲ deteriorationofmetalsbyan
arerelativelydifficulttooxidize.
electrochemicalprocess
• Moststructuralmetalshavereduction
potentialsthatarelesspositivethanO2 .
• Rusting Ͳ spontaneousoxidationofFe.
• Feo Fe+2 +2eͲ E°=0.44V
• O2 +2H2O+4eͲ o4OHͲ E°=0.40V
• Fe+2 +O2+H2OoFe2O3+H+
Thesearecallednoblemetals. • Reactionshappenintwoplaces.
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 Corrosion Production of Rust
Salt speeds up process by increasing conductivity

Water
Fe2+ Rust

e-
Iron Dissolves- O2 + 2H2O +4e- o 4OH-
Fe o Fe+2 Cathode
Anode
Fe2+ + O2 + 2H2O o Fe2O3 + 8 H+
Rust 5 6

Tarnish Aluminium
• Tarnish isathinlayerthatcoatssemiͲ
reactivemetalsurfaces
• Formedbyelectrochemicalrxn with • Al is very prone to corrosion
atmosphericgases • Al becomes Al2O3
• Protectsunderlyingmetal fromfurther – very hard material
corrosion
– adheres to metal surface and
• SilvertarnishisAg2S (black) protects the Al from further
corrosion
– looks a lot more like Al, so it isn't as
easy to notice as rust

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 Patina StatueOfLiberty
• Copper exposed to the atmosphere
forms a layer of CuCO3
• The CuCO3 is a fragile green
coating called patina
• Bronze and other alloys containing
Cu also form patina
• A patina layer takes many years to
develop under natural weathering
• As long as patina remains on
surface, further corrosion is
prevented
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PreventingCorrosion
• Coating (paint)tokeepoutairandwater.
• Galvanizing Ͳ Puttingonazinccoat
• Alloying withmetalsthatformoxidecoats.
• CathodicProtection Ͳ Attachinglargepiecesof
anactivemetallikemagnesiumthatget
oxidizedinstead.

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 Galvanization Alloying
• HotͲdipgalvanizedsteelhasbeeneffectivelyusedfor
• Stainlesssteelisanalloy
morethan150years
ofFeandCr
• SteeliscoatedwithathinlayerofZinc
• LayerofCr2O3 formson
• ZnformsaprotectivelayerofZnO surfaceandprevents
• ZnalsocathodicallyprotectsexposedsteelsinceZnis furthercorrosion
moreeasilyoxidized

13 14

CathodicProtectionofanIron CathodicProtectionofPipes

StorageTank

15 16
 SacrificialAnodes ActiveCathodicProtection

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Aluminium sacrificial anodes mounted on a steel jacket structure

Chemistry In Action: Dental Filling Discomfort

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