Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 18: Problem 44

How does the tendency of iron to rust depend on the \(\mathrm{pH}\) of solution?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Iron tends to rust more in neutral or slightly alkaline conditions due to the lack of competing hydrogen ions in the solution compared to acidic environments. Extremely high or low pH values, however, can still lead to corrosion and rust formation.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding pH and its impact on chemical reactions

The pH value of a solution determines its acidity or alkalinity. In chemical reactions, the pH can influence the rate and nature of the reactions. For a metal like iron, a highly acidic (low pH) or very alkaline (high pH) solution can accelerate corrosion, a process which ultimately leads to rust.
02

Identifying the relationship between pH and rust

Rust is an electrochemical reaction, which means it's a reaction that involves an exchange of electrons. Iron tends to lose electrons and become iron (II) ions, initiating the rusting process. Now, in an acidic solution (low pH), there is an abundance of hydrogen ions \(\text{H}^{+}\), which accept electrons more readily than iron (II) ions. This will slow down or even inhibit the rusting process. Alternatively, in an alkaline solution (high pH), there are less \(\text{H}^{+}\) ions to compete with the iron (II) ions, which enhances the rust formation.
03

Making a final inference

Therefore, solutions that are neutral or with a slight tendency towards alkalinity (higher pH value) will have an increased tendency to cause iron to rust. Conversely, highly acidic solutions (low pH value) will slow down the rusting process. However, it's crucial to remember that this isn't a guarantee against rust; a pH that is too extreme on either end of the scale can lead to corrosion of iron and eventual formation of rust.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

One of the half-reactions for the electrolysis of water is $$2 \mathrm{H}^{+}(a q)+2 e^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2}(g)$$ If \(0.845 \mathrm{~L}\) of \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\) is collected at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and \(782 \mathrm{mmHg}\), how many moles of electrons had to pass through the solution?

Predict whether \(\mathrm{Fe}^{3+}\) can oxidize \(\mathrm{I}^{-}\) to \(\mathrm{I}_{2}\) under standard-state conditions.

A quantity of \(0.300 \mathrm{~g}\) of copper was deposited from a CuSO solution by passing a current of 3.00 A through the solution for 304 s. Calculate the value of the Faraday constant.

Given the following standard reduction potentials, calculate the ion-product, \(K_{w},\) for water at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) : $$ \begin{array}{lr} 2 \mathrm{H}^{+}(a q)+2 e^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2}(g) & E^{\circ}=0.00 \mathrm{~V} \\ 2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)+2 e^{-} \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2}(g)+2 \mathrm{OH}^{-}(a q) & \\ E^{\circ}=-0.83 \mathrm{~V} \end{array} $$

An acidified solution was electrolyzed using copper electrodes. A constant current of 1.18 A caused the anode to lose \(0.584 \mathrm{~g}\) after \(1.52 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{~s}\). (a) What is the gas produced at the cathode and what is its volume at STP? (b) Given that the charge of an electron is \(1.6022 \times 10^{-19} \mathrm{C},\) calculate Avogadro's number. Assume that copper is oxidized to \(\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}\) ions.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free