Iron atoms have a greater tendency to oxidize than do copper atoms.Is this good news or bad news for a home in which much of the plumbing consists of iron and copper pipes connected together? Explain.
A)This is bad news,since the iron atoms will be reduced by the copper atoms.
B)This is not a problem,since the strength of the copper will make up for the weakness of the iron.
C)It is bad news.The iron atoms will lose electrons to the copper atoms,which will pass those electrons onto oxygen atoms that are in contact with the surface.
D)This is not a problem since any electrons lost will be replaced by copper electrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The greater tendency of iron atoms to oxidize means that they are more likely to lose electrons, which will be picked up by the copper atoms. This can lead to corrosion of the pipes, especially in the presence of oxygen, which can react with the iron atoms to form iron oxide. Therefore, it is bad news for a home in which much of the plumbing consists of iron and copper pipes connected together. The loss of electrons cannot be replaced by copper electrons, so option D is incorrect. Option B is also incorrect because the strength of copper does not make up for the weakness of iron in terms of their tendency to oxidize. Option A is not correct as it uses the wrong terminology.

Iron Atoms Have a Greater Tendency to Oxidize Than Do