What is the primary purpose of using inhibitors as corrosion prevention?

What is the primary purpose of using inhibitors as corrosion prevention?

• A. To remove water from the environment.
• B. To accelerate the corrosion process.
• C. To reduce the rate of corrosion by slowing the reaction on the metal surface.
• D. To alter the metal's crystal structure.

Answer: (C)

Corrosion is an electrochemical process where metal atoms lose electrons and are dissolved into the surrounding environment. Inhibitors prevent or slow this process by forming a protective layer on the metal surface or by neutralizing aggressive species in the environment. This adsorption of inhibitor molecules blocks active sites where the metal would otherwise react with the electrolyte, so the rate of both the anodic dissolution and the cathodic reactions is reduced. In short, inhibitors lower the rate of corrosion by slowing the surface reactions. They don’t remove water from the environment, so that option isn’t how inhibitors work. They also don’t accelerate corrosion, nor do they change the metal’s crystal structure; their effect is to create a barrier or alter the surface chemistry to make reactions at the surface proceed more slowly.

Corrosion is an electrochemical process where metal atoms lose electrons and are dissolved into the surrounding environment. Inhibitors prevent or slow this process by forming a protective layer on the metal surface or by neutralizing aggressive species in the environment. This adsorption of inhibitor molecules blocks active sites where the metal would otherwise react with the electrolyte, so the rate of both the anodic dissolution and the cathodic reactions is reduced. In short, inhibitors lower the rate of corrosion by slowing the surface reactions.

They don’t remove water from the environment, so that option isn’t how inhibitors work. They also don’t accelerate corrosion, nor do they change the metal’s crystal structure; their effect is to create a barrier or alter the surface chemistry to make reactions at the surface proceed more slowly.