is rust and corrosion the same thing?

Question

is there a difference???
or are they the same???

my friend is doing a project on corrosion. But she doesnt know the difference between rust and corrosion...i dont either

Answer 1

"Rust" is generally reserved to describe the reddish-borwn oxidation that occurs on iron and iron-containing metals.

Rust is one type of corrosion, which is the general term for the chemical breakdown of metal, usually due to the action of oxygen (although other agents, like chlorine, are also corrosive).

Answer 2

Rust is a type of corrosion. Rust is a reaction with iron by combining with water to form Fe2O3 or Iron(III) oxide. That is the only thing that rust describes.

Corrosion is anything that destroys something gradually, such as ultraviolet light on plastic, or microbes gradually digesting something. I'll assume that you are talking about corrosion in the context of metals. Corrosion could be a reaction with oxygen, or a cation exchange between different metals. For example, aluminum actually corrodes very quickly in the presence of oxygen. However, the "rust" or the oxide of aluminum is so strong and impermeable that it protects the inner layers against further corrosion. The reaction is this: 4Al + 3O2 ==> 2Al2O3. This process is called passivation, and it occurs with many other metals that are usually thought of as non-corroding.

Another example of corrosion is called galvanic corrosion, and this occurs when there are 2 different dissolved cations such as Cu 2+ or Fe 3+ the Fe 3+ will replace the Cu 2+ and if the salt that that makes is souluble, it will crystalize out of the soulution.

Answer 3

The first answer is right: rust is a form of corrosion. By definition, it's reserved for corrosion of metals (especially those containing iron) via oxidation.
Corrosion can occur where it wouldn't be considered rust. For example, I believe Nickel oxidizes and becomes black and sometimes soft/leathery. Copper oxidizes to a blueish green, as seen in the statue of liberty. Corrosion can also occur due to chemical reaction - sometimes it's intentional. For example, one might want to remove the outer layer of a metal structure. This would really only be useful if there was a plate covering the material you really want to use.

Other chemical reactions happen without direct contact. Old paintings and the like are 'photo-sensitive' ..so they are kept away from direct lights and photography is forbidden except under strict conditions, and certainly avoid sunlight.

Corrosion is also not limited to metals, for that matter. It refers generally to all those things that can be deteriorated or destroyed. When cows ingest rocks and nails and staples and ...railroad ties.. the abrasion during digestion can corrode the stomach linings and cause ulcers. This is why they came up the 'cow magnet' .... And sand-blasting as well as pressure washing are also, by the definition, corrosion.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
is rust and corrosion the same thing?
is there a difference???
or are they the same???

Answer 5

Rust is generally associated with Iron and is one form of corrosion.

Answer 6

Well ya!

Corrosion is slow combustion on metal (corrosion happens because of the atmosphere.) So when it corrodes than you get rust!!!

IN OTHER WORDS "YAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

Answer 7

All rust is corrosion but not all corrosion is rust...
Rust is the name for ferrous oxidation corrosion...

Answer 8

Metalic Iron have very quick way to be rust.This case is called oxydation.If we put an cupper metal on the iron we have made two electrodes.+ and - here.There are some moisture and wet around them .This is simple cell which make electrolysis ie. metalic corrosion.

Answer 9

No, they are different. People often use the term "rusting" to mean "corroding" though this is not technically correct.

Rust is that red colored residue you see on iron that has been left exposed to air & moisture.

"Corrosion" is the more general term for the oxidation of metal in the presence of oxygen and water -- it can happen to any metal. You can say "iron corrodes", "copper corrodes", "silver corrodes" etc. . . but iron is the only metal that you can say "rusts".

Answer 10

It's called oxidation as is combustion which is a very fast form of oxidation.