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Suppose you have three different metals, A, B, and C. When metals A and B come into contact, B corrodes and A does not corrode. When metals A and C come into contact, A corrodes and C does not corrode. Based on this information, which metal corrodes and which metal does not corrode when B and C come into contact?

a) B corrodes, C does not corrode
b) C corrodes, B does not corrode
c) Both B and C corrode
d) Neither B nor C corrode

1 Answer

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Final answer:

When metals B and C come into contact, metal B corrodes while metal C does not. This is because the more active metal corrodes in preference to a less active, more noble metal according to the galvanic series, which considers standard reduction potentials.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering which metal corrodes when B and C come into contact, we are analyzing a situation related to galvanic corrosion, an electrochemical process. In our example, metal B corrodes when in contact with metal A, and metal A corrodes when in contact with metal C.

The concept that applies here is similar to the activity series in which one metal can corrode another when in contact, based on their standard reduction potentials, which is an indication of how easily they are oxidized. The standard reduction potential can be found in electrochemical series tables, which are guidelines for the relative tendencies of metals to undergo oxidation.

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