Will iron rust before copper?
Rusting is an electro chemical reaction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusting The driving force of this reaction is the electrochemical potential. The more negative the electrochemical potential the faster some thing will corrode. Iron has a higher negative potential and will corrode faster. Fe 1.83 to Cu 1.90, the scale can be measured a variety of ways and the results are a ratio and hence dimension less. The commonly accepted measurement in corrosion chemistry is against a standard hydrogen electrode. As 1.83 is more negative well (nearer negative) the iron will corrode faster. If the two are in electrical contact the iron will actually corrode in the place of the copper, protecting it. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.
Rusting is an electro chemical reaction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusting The driving force of this reaction is the electrochemical potential. The more negative the electrochemical potential the faster some thing will corrode. Iron has a higher negative potential and will corrode faster. Fe 1.83 to Cu 1.90, the scale can be measured a variety of ways and the results are a ratio and hence dimension less. The commonly accepted measurement in corrosion chemistry is against a standard hydrogen electrode. As 1.83 is more negative well (nearer negative) the iron will corrode faster. If the two are in electrical contact the iron will actually corrode in the place of the copper, protecting it.
