LAB REPORT : CMT555

EXPERIMENT 5: ANODES AND CATHODES IN CORROSION

REACTIVITY

Date submitted :22nd November 2018

EXPERIMENT 5: ANODES AND CATHODES IN CORROSION REACTIVITY

OBJECTIVES:

1. To perform corrosion testing on several metals and understand how corrosion occur.
2. To show the existence and location of anodes and cathodes in corrosion processes.
3. To demonstrate methods of effective corrosion protection.

INTRODUCTION:

Corrosion is a process in which metals in manufactured states return to their original oxidation
states. This process through which the metal is being oxidized by its surroundings (often the
oxygen in air) is called a reduction-oxidation reaction. This reaction is not only spontaneous
but electrochemically favored as well. Corrosion is fundamentally the creation of voltaic, or
galvanic, cells in which the metal in question functions as an anode and generally degrades or
loses functional stability. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical
oxidation of metal in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen or sulfur. Rusting is the formation
of iron oxides and it is a well-known example of electrochemical corrosion. This type of
detriment typically generates oxide(s) or salt(s) of the original metal, and results in a unique
orange coloration. Aside from metals, corrosion can also occur on materials such as ceramics
or polymers, although in this circumstances, the term "degradation" is more appropriate.
Corrosion undermines the useful characeristics of materials and structures such as strength,
appearance and permeability to liquids and gases. Many structural alloys corrode simply from
exposure to moisture in air, but the corrosion process can be heavily affected by exposure to
certain substances. Corrosion can be focused locally to form a pit or crack, or it can spread out
across a wide area more or less evenly corroding the surface. Since corrosion is a diffusion-
controlled process, it takes place on an exposed surfaces. As a result, methods to dwindle the
activity of the exposed surface, such as chromate conversion and passivation, can elavate a
material's corrosion resistance.
PROCEDURES:

1. 200 mL of 0.1M sodium nitrate was heated to boil in 500 ml beaker . While stirring
with a glass rod, 3 g of powdered agar was added. The mixture was heated and stirred
until agar forms a suspension.
2. 10 drops of 0.1M potassium ferricyanide and 10 drops of phenolphlthalein was added
to the agar suspension. The mixture was stirred thoroughly.
3. Three iron nails was cleaned with iron nails.
4. One iron nail was placed in the bottom of the first petri dish.
5. 10 cm of copper wire and 10 cm of zinc wire was polished with steel wool.
6. 10 cm copper wire was lightly wrapped around the second iron nail. 10 cm zinc was
lightly wrapped around the third iron nail.
7. The second and third wrapped iron nails was placed in the bottom of the second petri
dish. Both of the iron nails was placed far from each other, avoiding them to touch each
other.
8. Warm agar was poured inside both petri dishes to cover iron nails to a depth about 1
mm.
9. Both dishes were covered and let stand for about 48 hours.
10. On day 1, the subsequent colour developments over a period of several hours were
observed.
11. On day 2, the petri dishes against both while and black backgrounds were observed and
results were recorded.
RESULT:

Time Item Experimental Observations Sketch

conditions

Day 1 Dish 1 Iron in agar + Blue coloration

phenolphthalein + formed along the
potassium nails
ferricyanide

Dish 2 Iron wrapped with Blue coloration

zinc + appears on the
( Zinc )
phenolphthalein + nails. The wrapped
potassium part of the nail
ferricyanide turns slightly pink.

Dish 3 Iron wrapped with The brown and the

copper + blue colour develop
( copper )
phenolphthalein + along the copper
potassium surface and the
ferricyanide blue colour
develops on the
agar. The wrapped
plot also turns pink.

Day 2 Dish 1 Iron in agar + Brown and blue

phenolphthalein + colour form along
potassium the nail. Pink
ferricyanide colour also appears
on the head of the
nails.
 Dish 2 Iron wrapped with Blue coloration
zinc + appears along the
( zinc )
phenolphthalein + nail and the
potassium unwrapped part
ferricyanide becomes more
pink.

Dish 3 Iron wrapped with The brown colour

copper + develops along the
( copper )
phenolphthalein + copper surface and
potassium the blue colour
ferricyanide develops on the
unwrapped side.
The wrapped parts
of the nails also
become slightly
pink.

DISCUSSION

The objectives of this experiment are to understand how corrosion occurs, location of
anodes and cathodes in corrosion process and demonstrate methods of effective corrosion
protective. In the cathode reaction, electrons provided by the anode, flow through the metal
until they reach the cathode where they can be combined with positively charged ions.

Different metals are affected to different degrees and corrosive attack takes many
different forms. Attack may be by general tarnishing or rusting with occasional perforations in
especially affected areas. Corrosion may develop preferentially near the junction of two
different metals. The metal may suffer highly localized attack by pitting. The strength of a
metal may be destroyed by cracking induced by corrosion. We are all too familiar with
corrosion r in action in these ways. Corrosion may also be confined around wrapper side with
the reagents that can cause the corrosion in some periods of time.

The nail partially plated with zinc is used. The colour development is noted over several
hours. In this instance no blue coloration appears because zinc is more active than iron and
performs as the anode in the zinc-iron galvanic couple. Zinc ions form at the anode but they do
not form a coloured compound with the indicators used. Hence, no colour develops on the zinc
area. The development of a red colour on the iron surface shows that it is now acting entirely
as a cathode. A local red coloration that may develop on the zinc strip where it comes out of
the gel is due to a secondary oxygen concentration cell effect on the zinc. This is to be
distinguished from the reactions of the zinc-iron nail galvanic couple.

Copper is a least active component where it develops the blue changes colour around
the nails because it can react with the nails itself. After several hours the brown colours develop
along the copper surface and the blue colours develops on the unwrapped side. The wrapped
part of the nails also becomes slightly pink.

CONCLUSION

The objectives of this experiments are achieved which are how corrosion occur, existence and
location of anodes and cathodes in corrosion process and methods of effective corrosion
protection .

REFERENCES

Lab Manual CMT 555. Electrochemistry and Corrosion Science.

The Royal Society of Chemistry, Jan 2016, https://eic.rsc.org/exhibition-chemistry/nailing-

corrosion-demonstrations/2000054.article

Wordpress, October 2012. Galvanic Corrosion of Iron Nail.

https://tgreen230493.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/galvanic-corrosion-of-an-iron-nail/