Corrosion

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/corrosion

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the fundamental process?Electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions between a metal and its environment
2. What is the common reactants?Oxygen (O2) and hydrated protons (H+) in aqueous solutions
3. Why does rust form on iron?Rust forms when iron loses electrons at an anodic site and oxygen and water at a cathodic site use those electrons, turning iron into iron oxide.
4. How can saltwater make metal corrode faster?Saltwater contains chloride ions that help ions move, speeding up corrosion and especially causing tiny deep holes called pitting.

Anode: The electrode where oxidation (loss of electrons) occurs during an electrochemical reaction.
Cathode: The electrode where reduction (gain of electrons) occurs during an electrochemical reaction.
Electrolyte: A substance containing free ions that makes the solution electrically conductive, often accelerating corrosion.
Passivation: The process of making a metal surface resistant to corrosion, often by forming a protective oxide layer.