[kivine]

What is the meaning of mechanism of corrosion of METALS?


does it mean the method/way or how does a metal gets corroded?

[jdurg]

Corrosion of metals occurs when the metal is oxidized by a chemical/element with a higher oxidizing capability than the metal itself.  Corrosion can also occur when a metal dissolves (or more appropriately amalgamates) with another metal such as mercury or gallium.

[Limpet Chicken]

JUst out of curiosity, what IS the difference between an amalgam, and a metal alloy?
for instance, caesium dosen't form amalgams with other metals does it?

[jdurg]

I believe that an amalgam is only when a metal combines with mercury, and it's an alloy when it's all other metals.  Although I have heard the term "amalgam" used when a mixtures of metals is liquid.  

[Donaldson Tan]

According to The Oxford Dictionary of Chemistry, 4th Edition 2000,

Amalgam is defined as an alloy of mercury with one or more other metals. Most metals form amalgams (Iron and Platinum are exceptions), which maybe liquid or solid. Some contain definite intermetallic compounds such as NaHg₂

Corrosion is defined as the chemical or electrochemical attack on the surface of a metal.

[kivine]

I'm sorry. but back to topic

I still don't understand by the meaning of mechanism of corrosion of METALS?


does it mean by the ways in which metals get corroded?

for example galvanic corrosion , atmospheric corrosion , hydrogen embriittlement  

[Demotivator]

Yep, you got it.
A mechanism of anything is the detailed chemical steps that occur between the initial state and final state.

[kivine]

thanks