Abstract:

The paper discusses the way to improve student knowledge in electrochemistry. The standard potentials are used for the calculation of electromotive force (EMF) according to the formula E0 = Eooxid.agent − Eoreduc.agent. However, the standard conditions differ from the conditions under which the real experiment is carried out. This difference is due to many environmental factors (e.g., temperature, pH, concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen in the environment etc.), thus the value of metal potential is affected. Therefore, instead of the standard potentials the authors suggest using stationary metal potentials which have proven themselves in practice. The formula for the calculation of EMF of corrosion galvanic cells E0 = Eocathode − Eoanode, is transformed into the formula E = EpHcathode − EpHanode.
Students proposed easily memorized six-step algorithm corrosion. The suggested algorithm is a helpful tool in studying corrosion of metals.

This algorithm has already been used since 1995 and students find it particularly useful in understanding the corrosion process and convenient to use. A corrosion algorithm enables the students to understand the corrosion processes even better. In order to help students to understand and visualize the exact sites where corrosion processes take place, the corrosion schemes are drawn. The half reactions are depicted at the surface of the anode and cathode. The corrosion scheme completes the corrosion algorithm. This paper presents 3 students examples which are supported by the proposed six-step corrosion algorithm.

Keywords:

Algorithm, electrochemistry, stationary potential, electromotive force, corrosion.