4.

2 DATA INTERPRETATION

From the results I obtained from this experiment, I observed that the various metals

zinc, silver, lead, copper and tin displayed unique corrosion characteristics in various

pH solutions HCl solution(pH1) , CH 3 COOH solution(pH 4), distilled water, NH 3

solution(pH 10) and NaOH solution (pH 13).

Among all metals, Zinc showed the highest corrosion rate in both acids. This is

because Zinc has the highest position in the reactivity series compared to other 4

metals hence it has the greatest tendency to be oxidised. The corrosion rate of zinc in

HCl was 0.115 mpy and 0.071 in CH 3 COOH solution. Both solutions turn cloudy at

the end and a lot of gas bubbles were released due to the formation of hydrogen gas.

Zn (s) + 2HCl (aq) ---> ZnCl 2 (aq) + H 2 (g)

Corrosion of zinc in HCl was higher because HCl is a stronger acid than CH 3 COOH

solution. Brown spots were even formed on zinc in HCl solution due to severe corrosive

attack. Zn also showed a corrosion rate of 0.064 mpy in distilled water. Effervescence

occurred. In distilled water, Zn cannot form a protective scale to reduce the access of

oxygen to the zinc surface, hence the attack will commence. Zinc also reacted under

high pH conditions. Zinc shows a corrosion rate of 0.148 mpy in sodium hydroxide

solution and 0.079 mpy in ammonia solution. The corrosion rate in sodium hydroxide

solution is higher compared to ammonia solution because sodium hydroxide is a

stronger base. I also observed that the reaction in these two bases released gas
bubbles and turn cloudy. Although Zinc is lower than Sodium in reactivity series of

metals, the following reaction wouldnt take place

Zn+2NaOH Zn (OH )2 +2Na

However, Zinc is amphoteric, so it can react with a strong base such as NaOH as an

acid forming sodium zincate. The gas bubbles released is due to the formation of

hydrogen gas. White scratches were even formed on the metal.

Zn+2 H 2 O +2NaOH Na 2 Zn (OH )4 + H 2

Lead metal showed a corrosion rate of 0.064 mpy in HCl solution and 0.036 mpy in

CH 3 COOH solution. The corrosion rate in HCl was higher because HCl is a stronger

acid. Gas bubbles were also formed in HCl solution. Though in theory, lead does not

corrode in distilled water, it showed a corrosion rate of 0.021 mpy. This may be due to

the the exposure of oxygen and carbon dioxide. In distilled water containing a certain

ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen, a lead carbonate film that is formed dissolves and

corrosive attack commences. From the results, it has also been found that among all

metals, lead metal has the highest rate of corrosion under higher pH. The corrosion rate

of lead in NH 3 solution is 0.089 mpy and 0.137 mpy in NaOH solution. The lead

metal crumples a lot in both alkali solutions. The tendency of lead to corrode seems to

be greater in alkalis than acids. This is because lead is a heavy metal and heavy metals

generally have a higher reactivity in alkaline conditions.

 Silver metal shows the lowest corrosion rate in low pH conditions. Silver metal

corroded at a rate of 0.007 mpy and 0.016 in HCl solution and CH 3 COOH solution.

Silver has a low tendency to corrode in acids because it is at a lower position than

hydrogen in the reactivity series, therefore it hardly displaces the hydrogen from the

acid. The rate of corrosion of silver metal in distilled water is 0.00 indicating no corrosion

took place. However, it corroded at a rate of 0.082 mpy and 0.114 mpy in ammonia and

sodium hydroxide solution. The corrosion rate is higher in NaOH than NH 3 because

NaOH is a stronger base.

Similar to Silver, Copper has relatively low corrosion rates in solution with low pH.

Copper shows a corrosion rate of 0.010 mpy in HCl and 0.013 in CH 3 COOH solution.

The tendency of copper to be oxidised in acid is low because it has a lower position in

the reactivity series than hydrogen. Black spots are formed when copper was reacted

with distilled water. This is due to the formation of copper(II) oxide when copper reacted

with oxygen.

2Cu(s) + O2 (g) 2CuO(s)

Copper corrodes slightly in high pH conditions. The rate of corrosion in ammonia

solution is 0.022 mpy and 0.030 mpy. It corrodes at a higher rate in NaOH solution

0.030 mpy as NaOH is a stronger base.

The last metal tested was Tin metal. Tin reacted with HCl and showed a relatively

low corrosion rate of 0.026 mpy.

 Sn+ 2HCl SnCl 2 + H2

A little amount of gas bubbles were seen at the end of the experiment due to the small

amount of hydrogen gas formed. In ethanoic acid solution, Tin metal corroded at a lower

rate which is 0.014 mpy. This is because HCl is a stronger acid. There was no corrosion

when Tin was tested with distilled water. However, from the results it has been proven

that Tin corrodes more in higher pH solutions. The rate of corrosion in sodium hydroxide

solution was highest among other metals.

Sn + 2NaOH + 4 H 2 O Na 2 Sn (OH )6 ] +2 H 2

Gas bubbles was formed because hydrogen was evolved. In this reaction, sodium

stannate, which is a colourless salt and soluble in water, is formed and hence the

solution remains clear. A lower corrosion rate of 0.099 mpy was obtained when Tin was

tested with ammonia solution. This is because ammonia is a weaker base.