Structural collapse of metals (rust formation)

Definition

Oxidation of a metal drains the shared electron pool that bonds its lattice, so atoms become metal ions and leave the structure as oxides or hydroxides.

A metal is a lattice of atoms sharing a pool of free electrons that acts as the glue holding it together. As electrons leave, the metallic bond weakens and atoms such as Fe become Fe2+ and Cu become Cu2+, then react into oxides or hydroxides built from the wreckage. The resulting rust is a different material with its own density, brittleness, and shape, sitting at lower energy with no spontaneous path back to metal.

Related concepts

Electrochemical corrosion · Metallic bond · Destructive oxidation

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧱 materials