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Corrosion - "when a refined metal is naturally converted to a more stable form such as its oxide, hydroxide or sulfide state this leads to deterioration of the material." (TWI)
Corrosion - "when a refined metal is naturally converted to a more stable form such as its oxide, hydroxide or sulfide state this leads to deterioration of the material." (TWI)
Ex. Rust is a form of corrosion
Corrosion of the pipes
Corrosion of the pipes
The Flint River was already incredibly corrosive due to the chlorine from road salt that is washed into the river. It also didn’t help that the city officials added more chlorine to kill off the bacteria that was in the water. Corrosion is defined as “when a refined metal” is changed to a “more stable form” which “leads to deterioration of the material.” Which is exactly what happened in the Flint Michigan water crisis, where the corrosiveness of the water converted the “refined metal” (being the lead pipes) into it’s “more stable form” being Lead ions (2+) and the deteriorated lead pipes contaminated the water.
Definitions
(in)soluble:
(of a substance) able to (or not) be dissolved, especially in water
Molecule:
A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
Dissolve:
(with reference to a solid) become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution.
Dissociate:
(especially in abstract contexts) disconnect or separate.
Reactants:
A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.
Products:
A substance produced during a natural, chemical, or manufacturing process.
Ion
An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons. [+3 means lost 3, -3 means gained 3; because electrons are negative]
(Lexico)
Corrosion Solution
Corrosion Solution
To fix the corrosion issues, the lead Nitrate (Pb NO3), which is soluble in water, needs to be turned into a molecule that is insoluble, so it’s easier to filter out. To do this Potassium Iodide (KI) is added to the water.
Both of the reactants are soluble, so they both dissociate in water. Once broken up, the atoms rearrange to create our products: Potassium Nitrate, and Lead Iodide. Potassium Nitrate is soluble in water, while Lead Iodide isn’t. This means that the lead can now easily be filtered out.
Citations
Citations
History. “The Flint Water Crisis Begins.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 May 2018, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-flint-water-crisis-begins.
LeBlanc, Beth. “Here Are Nine Officials Charged in Flint Water Crisis.” The Detroit News, The Detroit News, 15 Jan. 2021, www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2021/01/14/nine-michigan-officials-charged-flint-water-crisis/4161106001/.
Denchak, Melissa. “Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know.” NRDC, 1 May 2020, www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know.
Science Daily. “Closer Look at What Caused the Flint Water Crisis.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 1 Feb. 2017, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170201092656.htm.
“What Is Corrosion? - Definition and Prevention.” TWI, www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-corrosion#:~:text=Corrosion%20is%20when%20a%20refined,to%20deterioration%20of%20the%20material.
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