THE RATE OF DISSOLUTION OF COPPER

Abstract
The rate of dissolution of polycrystalline metallic copper in sulphuric acid solutions has been determined as a function of temperature, oxygen pressure, rotation speed, hydrogen ion concentration, sample area, and corroding solution volume. A typical set of conditions would involve a volume of 500 ml. of air-saturated sulphuric acid solution at room temperature and a cylindrical sample of copper of 11 sq. cm. area rotated at 1000 r.p.m. An empirical rate equation has been given which represents the data with an average deviation of ±5%. The rate equation is discussed in terms of a mechanism in which it is postulated that the rate controlling step in the dissolution of copper is the oxidation of cuprous ion at the solution–copper interface.

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