AQA · Chemistry · 8462

GCSE Chemistry: Corrosion and its prevention

Using resources · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.10.3.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Corrosion and its prevention", and every card links back to the page it came from. Separate science only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

12 flashcards · Free to study · No account needed

Study this deck

Preparing your cards…

All questions and answers

Read through the full deck, or practise recalling each answer above.

  1. Define corrosion.

    Show answer

    The destruction of materials by chemical reactions with substances in the environment.

  2. What is rusting an example of?

    Show answer

    Corrosion — specifically the corrosion of iron.

  3. Which two substances are both necessary for iron to rust?

    Show answer

    Air (oxygen) and water.

  4. Why does an iron nail in boiled water under a layer of oil not rust?

    Show answer

    Boiling removes dissolved air and the oil keeps air out, so there is no oxygen — both air and water are needed for rusting.

  5. Why does an iron nail kept in dry air (with a drying agent) not rust?

    Show answer

    There is no water present — both air and water are needed for rusting.

  6. How does painting or greasing iron prevent rusting?

    Show answer

    The coating acts as a barrier that keeps air and water away from the iron surface.

  7. Name three barrier coatings that prevent corrosion.

    Show answer

    Greasing, painting and electroplating.

  8. Why does aluminium not corrode further despite being reactive?

    Show answer

    It forms an oxide coating that acts as a barrier, protecting the metal beneath from further corrosion.

  9. What is sacrificial protection?

    Show answer

    Coating or attaching a more reactive metal to iron so that the more reactive metal corrodes (is oxidised) instead of the iron.

  10. Coating iron with zinc to protect it from rusting is called ?.

    Show answer

    galvanising

  11. Why can zinc give sacrificial protection to iron?

    Show answer

    Zinc is more reactive than iron, so it reacts (oxidises) preferentially, sparing the iron.

  12. Why does galvanised iron stay protected even when the zinc layer is scratched?

    Show answer

    Zinc is more reactive than iron, so it continues to corrode sacrificially instead of the exposed iron.

Want to create your own cards? Create a free account. AI generation uses credits.