Problem 6.10: The chapter says oxygen is not the strongest
From Chapter 6 Problem Set. Level 3: System Integration.
Question
The chapter says oxygen is not the strongest oxidant but has two advantages no applied oxidant can match. Name those advantages, and explain why they make oxygen the most persistent corrosion threat in industrial water systems.
Answer
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Oxygen’s two unmatched advantages: (1) it is dissolved in almost every water system on Earth, and (2) it is constantly replenished by contact with air. Applied oxidants like chlorine or ozone must be dosed and maintained. Oxygen requires no addition - it is always present by default. Combined with its respectable reduction potential (~1.23 V) and continuous supply, oxygen becomes the most persistent corrosion threat because it never runs out and never needs to be fed.