Final answer:
Corrosion is the REDOX process of metal deterioration, with metals like iron being highly susceptible and gold and platinum being highly resistant. Aluminum is protected by a self-forming oxide layer, and various methods like cathodic protection are used to prevent corrosion in metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Corrosion is defined as the deterioration of a material, typically a metal, due to chemical reactions with substances in the environment. This usually involves a galvanic process and is a REDOX (oxidation-reduction) process.
The most common form of corrosion is the oxidation of metals. For example, iron rusts when it undergoes oxidation forming a red-brown scale known as rust, while silver tarnishes, and copper forms a protective green layer known as a patina.
While most metals are susceptible to corrosion under certain conditions, some are more resistant than others. Metals such as gold and platinum are highly resistant to corrosion due to their strong resistance to oxidation.
On the other hand, metals like iron are much more prone to corrosion, resulting in significant economic impact.
Some metals, despite beginning to oxidize, form a protective oxide coating that prevents further corrosion.
One example is aluminum, which forms an aluminum oxide layer, whereas other metals may use protective methods like cathodic protection or coatings of a more easily oxidized metal to secure against corrosion.