CHAPTER 4

RESULT AND FINDINGS

4.0 INTRODUCTION

The metals that were each tested with 5 different pH conditions were observed

based on the change in physical appearance of the metal and also the solution. The

corrosion rate was also calculated in mpy(Mils penetration per year) units. The

observation and corrosion rate of each metal was analysed. The metal that corroded the

most in each pH condition was also determined.

4.1 DATA AND RESULT

HCl Observation
Zn - A lot of gas bubbles released.
- Solution turns cloudy
- Brown stains formed on metal.
Pb Gas bubbles released.
Ag Gas bubbles released.
Cu No changes observed.
Sn A little gas bubbles formed.

Image 1: Metals in HCl Solution

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 From left to right: Zn, Pb, Ag, Cu, Sn

CH3COOH Observation
Sn - A little gas bubbles released.
Pb A little gas bubbles released.
Zn - Effervescence occurred.
- Solution turns a little cloudy.
Ag - Effervescence occurred.
- Solution turns a little cloudy.
Cu No changes observed.

Image 2: Metals in CH3COOH solution

From left to right: Sn, Pb, Zn, Ag, Cu

Distilled water Observation

Zn - Effervescence occurred.
Pb No changes observed.
Ag No changes observed.
Cu Black spots formed on metal.
Sn A little gas bubbles formed.

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 Image 3: Metals in distilled water.

From left to right: Zn, Pb, Ag, Cu, Sn

NH3 Observation
Sn No changes observed.
Pb -Gas bubbles released.

Lead metal crumples.

Zn - Gas bubbles released.
- Solution turns cloudy
Ag No changes observed.
Cu No changes observed.

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 Image 4:Metals in NH3 solution

From left to right: Sn, Pb, Zn, Ag, Cu.

NaOH Observation
Pb - Gas bubbles released.
- Lead metal crumples a lot
Zn -Gas bubbles released.

-Solution turns cloudy

- White scratches formed on metal.

Ag Effervescence occurred.
Sn Gas bubbles released.
Cu No changes observed.

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 Image 5: Metals in NaOH solution

From left to right: Pb, Zn, Ag, Sn, Cu

4.1.2 CORROSION RATE OF METALS

534 x W
Corrosion rate
Dx AxT

where,

W=weight loss (g)

3
D=metal density (g/ cm )

2
A= exposed area of metal ( cm )

T= exposure time (hours)

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Zinc metal

Solution Initial mass Final mass Change in Rate of

mass corrosion

(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.45 1.25 0.20 0.154

acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic acid 1.6 1.50 0.10 0.071

(pH 4)
Distilled water 1.38 1.30 0.08 0.064
Ammonia 1.4 1.30 0.10 0.079

(pH 10)
Sodium 1.5 1.305 0.15 0.111

Hydroxide

(pH 13)

Lead metal

Solution Initial mass Final mass Change in Rate of

mass corrosion

(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.38 1.30 0.08 0.064

acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic acid 1.24 1.20 0.04 0.036

(pH 4)
Distilled water 1.08 1.06 0.02 0.021
Ammonia 1.25 1.15 0.10 0.089

(pH 10)
Sodium 1.22 1.07 0.15 0.137
Hydroxide

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 (pH 13)

Silver metal

Solution Initial mass Final mass Change in Rate of

mass corrosion

(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.56 1.55 0.01 0.007

acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic acid 1.42 1.40 0.02 0.016

(pH 4)
Distilled water 1.45 1.45 0.00 0.000
Ammonia 1.08 1.00 0.08 0.082

(pH 10)
Sodium 0.78 0.70 0.08 0.114

Hydroxide

(pH 13)

Copper metal

Solution Initial mass Final mass Change in Rate of

mass corrosion

(mpy)
Hydrochloric 1.06 0.1.05 0.01 0.010

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 acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic acid 0.87 0.86 0.01 0.013

(pH 4)
Distilled water 1.08 1.08 0.01 0.010
Ammonia 1.02 1.00 0.02 0.022

(pH 10)
Sodium 1.12 0.99 0.03 0.030

Hydroxide

(pH 13)

Tin metal

Solution Initial mass Final mass Change in Rate of

mass corrosion

(mpy)
Hydrochloric 0.85 0.83 0.02 0.026

acid (pH 1)
Ethanoic acid 0.81 0.80 0.01 0.014

(pH 4)
Distilled water 0.78 0.78 0.00 0.000
Ammonia 0.90 0.87 0.03 0.037

(pH 10)
Sodium 0.78 0.70 0.08 0.114
Hydroxide
(pH 13)
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

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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

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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
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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

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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.

4.3 DISCUSSION

Through the results obtained, it is indeed true that each metal does have its own

individual corrosion behavior. By analyzing the corrosion behavior of each metal, the

importance and particular role not only can be understood but corrosion can also be

prevented.

Zinc metal had the highest corrosion rate in both acids. Zinc is characterized

through a negative standard electrode potential (-0.76 V) and because of this

thermodynamic characteristic, it is a metal that is very susceptible to corrosion.

(Nurnberger, 2001) Zinc also corrodes a lot in high pH solutions. Zinc as well is an

amphoteric metal and hence is not resistant in acid and alkaline regions. Though very

corrosive, Zinc has its advantages too. Zinc forms protective coatings made of solid

corrosion products in many normal media and in building materials by a reaction with its

environment. As zinc has a higher electromotive potential than iron or steel, it commonly

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serves as galvanic protection for iron and steel. As zinc is sacrificed, rusting of iron can

be prevented.

Lead metal can not only be dissolved in acids, but also in alkalis. In fact, lead metal

has the highest corrosion rate in both alkali solutions. Lead is heavily attacked in an

alkaline electrolysis above pH 9. (Nurnberger, 2001, p. 76) Though Lead also corrodes

in oxygen-containing water, this has serve lead as a roofing material. While lead sheet

can resist the external elements better than any other roofing material, like many of its

competitors it is vulnerable to distilled water (condensation). In principle, falling

rainwater contains an appreciable amount of dissolved carbon dioxide which attacks the

lead resulting in the formation of a layer of lead carbonate. The layer adheres to the

surface of the metal and gradually thickens to form a stable, protective patina,

preventing further corrosive attack. (Coote, 1996)

On one hand, copper metal portrayed an excellent corrosion resistivity. Copper

metal had the lowest corrosion rate among all other metals in acids and alkalis. This is

due to the fact that copper has a positive standard electrode of +0.34 V. The resistance

of all grades of copper to atmospheric corrosion is good, hence their wide usage for

contact with most waters. Copper is used in domestic and commercial plumbing system.

The introduction of copper pipes offered a stronger, lighter and cheaper alternative to

lead. The first pipes, used in 1810 were made of sheet metal. Since then, there have

been a number of developments joining of copper pipes. (Oliphant, 2003) Copper is

also used as an alloying element for alloys such as brass and bronze to minimize

corrosion.

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 Though alkali solutions are very aggressive in corroding Tin, Tin metal is more

resistant to acids and even distilled water. Due to its poor mechanical properties, it is

not used at all for structural materials. Instead, it is used to coat others metals such as

steel and is referred to as tinplate. (Maklouf, 2014) Since Tin has a lower position than

iron in the reactivity series, tin will not be sacrificed, in fact it prevents corrosion of Iron

unless the Tin is scratched.

Just like Tin, Silver is known to be corrosion resistant. However, it does show a high

corrosion rate in higher pH conditions especially in sodium hydroxide solution. On the

contrary, Silver shows good resistivity towards acid and distilled water. Silver can also

be used as a coating. For example, industrial silver plating is a corrosion resistant

coating that can be plated on steel, aluminium, copper bronze and even stainless steel

alloys. This protects the inner content underneath by creating a barrier for corrosive

attack. Its shiny appearance also makes the coated product to be more presentable.

This is why silver plating is also used in a wide variety of applications from Christmas

Tree ornaments to cutlery and hollowware.

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