Monday, 20 October 2014

What metals rust more quickly near the sea?

What metals rust more quickly near the sea?
Rust in it's truest definition is Iron(III) Oxide, meaning the only metal that can "rust" is Iron. If you are asking, "What metals oxidize more quickly near the sea?" The answer would still be Iron or steel, which has Iron in it. Oxidation occurs when metals have chemical reactions with Oxygen in the air and water. Rust occurs when the Iron atoms lose a few electrons to the Oxygen atoms and deteriorates the structure of the molecules, creating weak points. Salt water and salty air allows ions to flow more easily from objects creating faster decay. Ships battle this natural process be attaching galvanic anodes to the hull of the ships, this anode can be made out of Magnesium, Aluminum, or Zinc and basically creates a magnet for the ions, from the Oxygen, to "attack" it instead of deteriorating the Iron. These anodes need replaced about every 6 months.

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