CHEMISTRY PROJECT STPM 2016

ABSTRACT
• This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of pH level on corrosion rate. The necessity of this
experiment arises from the need to demonstrate how a potentially corrosive situation may be recognized and
avoided.
• Four sample metals – copper, aluminum, stannum and lead were dipped in 3 beakers containing – saturated
NaOH solution (pH 11), distilled water (pH 7) and concentrated sulphuric acid (pH 3) respectively.
• The weight loss after a particular time interval was recorded and the corrosion rates of each individual metal
in the different solutions were also calculated and analyzed.
• The nature of the metal rods and solutions before and after the corrosion was observed and in certain
solutions, vigorous reactions with heavy cloudiness were noticed.
• It was concluded that the different metals showed unique corrosion characteristics in the various solutions of
stated pH levels as aluminum showed the highest tendency to corrode under any particular pH level.
 OBJECTIVE
• Scientific Objective:
• a) To understand the chemical reactions leading to corrosion
• b) To determine the rate of corrosion
• c) To investigate the corrosion of metals in different solutions
• General Objective:
• a) To instill good moral values – cooperation independence and self confidence
• b) To apply basic scientific skills in the research project
• c) To apply basic chemical principals and techniques in the investigation
 Problem statement:
What is the effect of pH level on corrosion rate?
 
Hypothesis:
Different pH have different effects on the rate of corrosion of
metals
 
Aim:
To investigate the effect of pH level on corrosion rate.
 VARIABLES

Manipulated variable: The pH of the solution.

Responding variable: The corrosion rate for each of the
metals.
Constant variable : The volume of various type of
solution used.
 Stannum,
Aluminium
,Lead and Copper

Boiling
Saturated
Sandpaper,
Tube
NaOH,Stopwatch,
solution
Concentration
Distilled H 2SO4(pH
water acid7)(pH 3)
Scissors
Electronic
(pH
and11)
balance
Forceps

Materials and Apparatus

 2. Fill 15 ml of 3. Cut the Stannum,
Concentration H2SO4 Copper,Lead and
1.Label the boiling Aluminium into small
4. Weigh the initial
tubes: 3 with label A, 3 acid, 15ml of Saturated mass of the 4 metals
pieces with equal length
NaOH solution and 15 strips using an
with label B, and 3 with ml of distilled water
using a pair of scissors
label C. and clean the metal strips electronic balance.
respectively and into 3

PROCEDURE
using sandpaper.
boiling tubes A, B and C.

6. After 30 minutes, take

7. Repeat step 4 and 5 out all the metals from the 5. Put the 4 metal
by putting the 4 boiling tubes using a pair
8.Repeat step 6 after strips separately into 3
metals strips of forceps and weigh the
60 minutes. boiling tubes A and
separately into 3 final mass of each metal
strips using an electronic start the stopwatch.
boiling tubes B.
balance
 11.Record the initial
mass and final mass of
9. Repeat step 4 and 5
10. Repeat step 6 each metals in a table
by putting the 3 metals
after 30 minutes. for each experiments
strips separately into 3
and calculate the rate of
boiling tubes C
corrosion.
METAL SAMPLE WEIGHT LOSS TIME TAKEN CORROSION RATE
(g) (s) (g/s)
Beaker A - Saturated NaOH solution (pH 11)
Copper 0.01 1800 5.556x10-6
Aluminum 0.12 1800 66.667x10-6
Lead 0.01 1800 5.556x10-6
Stannum 0.00 1800 0.00
Beaker B – Distilled Water (pH 7)
Copper 0.00 3600 0.00
Aluminum 0.09 3600 25.000x10-6
Lead 0.01 3600 2.778x10-6
Stannum 0.00 3600 0.00
Beaker C – Concentrated H2SO4 acid (pH 3)
Copper 0.01 1800 5.556x10-6
Aluminum 0.01 1800 5.556x10-6
Lead 0.01 1800 5.556x10-6
Stannum 0.00 1800 0.00
 Graph of Corrosion of Rate
0

0
Copper Aluminium Lead Stanum

Saturated NaOH solution (Ph 11) Distilled Water (pH 7) Concentrated H2SO4 Acid (pH 3)
 CONCLUSION
 Copper, aluminium , stannum and lead where chosen to be used in this experiment because they are
commonly used in real life and easily obtainable.
 the rate of corrosion for different metals are different even when they are exposed to the different
environment such as alkaline solution ,acidic solution and neutral solution.
 the effects of environmental conditions such as soil resistivity, humidity, and exposure to salt water on
various types of materials will affect the corrosion of metals
 Corrosion by rusting can be prevented by applying a coating that acts as a barrier to air and water, such
as greasing, painting or electroplating.
 In the case of the metal aluminium, this has an oxide coating that protects the metal from further
corrosion
……THE END…...
THANK YOU