CONTENTS


Acknowledgemen
t  Aim
 Introduction
 Mechanism of
corrosion of metal
 Methods of Prevention
of Corrosion of metals
 Aim of this
Project 
Apparatus 
Procedure 
Observation 
Conclusion
 I would like to take this
opportunity to thank my
Teacher
whose unstinted support,
OWLEDGEMENT

Guidance and Encouragement

has
enabled me to complete this
Project.
I would like to Thank our
Lab-
ACK

Assistant for co-operation.

AIM:
STUDY OF THE EFFECT
OF
METAL COUPLING ON
THE
RUSTING OF IRON
 Metal corrosion is the most common form of
corrosion. The corrosion occurs at the
surface of the metal in forms of chemical or
ODUCTION

electrochemical reactions. This process

significantly reduces the strength, plasticity,
toughness and other mechanical properties
of the metallic material. However, because
of the metal and its alloys is still the most
important pipe and structure materials, the
INT

cost of corrosion grows significantly with

the growth of industries. Thus many
scientists focus on the research of corrosion
control in order to reduce the cost of
replacing the rusting metal material.
Nowadays, there are mainly two corrosion
control methods that are very popular in the
world. One is impressed current and another
is sacrificial anode cathode protection
system. In this project, we will focus on the
mechanism and application of the sacrificial
anode cathode protection system.
 Mechanism of corrosion of metal
General Principle of Corrosion: Reaction is the
fundamental reaction during the corrosion
process, which the electron can flow from
certain areas on the metal surface to other
areas through a solution which can conduct
electric currents. Basically, both anodic and
cathode reactions have to balance each other
out, resulting in a neutral reaction. Both
anodic and cathodic reactions occur
simultaneously at the same rates. What’s
more, the site of these electrodes may consist
of either two different kinds of metals, or they
may be on different areas of the same piece of
metal, resulting a potential difference between
the two electrodes, so that the oxidation
reaction of the metal at the anode and
formation of negative ions at the cathode can
take place at the same time.
 Similar
electrical
potentials
may also be
developed
between two areas of a component made of a
single metal as result of small differences in
composition or structure or of differences in
the conditions to which the metal surface is
exposed. That part of a metal which becomes
the corroding area is called the “anode”; that
which acts as the other electrode of the
battery is called “cathode” which does not
corrode, but is an important part of the
system. In the corrosion systems commonly
involved, with water containing some salts
in solution as the electrolyte. Corrosion may
even take place with pure water, provided
that oxygen is present. In such cases oxygen
combines with the hydrogen generated at the
cathode, removing it and permitting the
reaction to go on.
 Rusting: An Electrochemical Mechanism
Rusting may be explained by an
electrochemical mechanism. In the presence of
moist air containing dissolved oxygen or
carbon dioxide, the commercial iron behaves
as if composed of small electrical cells. At
anode of cell, iron passes into solution as
ferrous ions. The electron moves towards the
cathode and form hydroxyl ions. Under the
influence of dissolved oxygen, the ferrous ions
and hydroxyl ions interact to form, i.e.,
hydrated
ferric
oxide.
Methods of Prevention of Corrosion and
Rusting
Some of the methods used: -
1) Barrier Protection: In this method, a
barrier film is introduced
between iron surface
and atmospheric air.
The film is obtained by
painting, varnishing etc.

2) Galvanization: The
metallic iron is covered by a
layer of more reactive metal
such as zinc. The active
metal losses electrons in
preference of iron. Thus,
protecting from rusting and corrosion.
AIM OF THIS PROJECT
Apparatus
1) Two Petri dishes
2) Four test-tube
3) Four iron nails
4) Beaker
5) Sand paper
6) Wire gauge
7) Gelatine
8) Copper, Zinc and Magnesium strips
9) Potassium ferricyanide solutions
10) Phenolphthalein

PROCEDURE
1) At first we have to clean the surface of
Mg Zn Cu

iron nails with the help of sand paper.

2) After that we have to wind zinc strip
around one nail, a clean copper wire around
the second and clean magnesium strip around
the third nail. Then to put all these three and
a fourth nail in Petri dishes so that they are
not in contact with each other.

3) Then to fill the Petri dishes with hot agar

agar solution in such a way that only lower
half of the nails are covered with the liquids.
4) Keep
the
covered
Petri
dishes for
one day or
so.

5) The
liquids set to a
gel on cooling.
Two types of
patches are observed around the rusted nail,
one is blue and the other pink. Blue patch
is due to the formation of potassium Ferro-
ferricyanide where pink patch is due to the
formation of hydroxyl ions which turns
colourless phenolphthalein to pink.
S.No. Metal Pair Colour Nails Rust
of the or not
Patch
1 Iron-Zinc Pink No
2 Iron- Blue Yes
Copper
3 Iron- Pink No
Magnesium
4 Iron-Nail Blue Yes
CONCLUSION
It is clear from the observation that coupling
of iron with more electropositive metals such
as zinc and magnesium resists corrosion and
rusting of iron. Coupling of iron with less
electropositive metals such as copper increases
rusting.