Atmospheric corrosion catalyses

Heterogeneous reaction at the interface between a solid surface and the adjacent gas is central to many chemical processes. Examples include deposition or etching of materials, atmospheric corrosion, combustion of solids, and heterogeneous catalysis. 

Copper is distinguished by several properties that contribute to its extensive use (I) a combination of mechanical workability with corrosion resistance lo many substances (2) excellent electrical conductivity, (3) superior thermal conductivity 14) effect as an ingredient of alloys to improve their physical and chemical properties (5) efficiency of copper and some of its compounds as catalysis for several kinds of chemical reaction (6) nonmagnetic characteristics, advantageous in electrical and magnetic apparatus and (7) nonsparking characteristics, mandatory for tools lor use in explosive atmospheres. There are additional attractions nf copper for many other applications. The metal would be used even more widely, hut... 

The initial laboratory investigation of the process now being piloted at the ASARCO El Paso plant involved bench scale evaluations of 19 different primary sulfur dioxide reduction catalysts. Also, fixed-bed and fluid-bed catalysis were compared, and various construction materials were evaluated in the corrosive hydrogen sulfide and sulfur vapor atmosphere generated in gas phase reduction of sulfur dioxide. 

Among all ions, the proton is special. First of all, it is the smallest, chemically relevant speeies. Seeond, it is - or can be made - present in all kinds of natural or artifieial deviees. And finally, it is the ionic species that can be transported fastest through liquid or solid media. The last mentioned property makes the proton essential for life, e.g. in acid-base reactions, enzymatic catalysis, or energy transduction in living cells. Moreover, fast proton transport is present in other important processes, such as corrosion or atmospheric chemistry. 

Many phenomena of interest in science and technology take place at the interface between a liquid and a second phase. Corrosion, the operation of solar cells, and the water splitting reaction are examples of chemical processes that take place at the liquid/solid interface. Electron transfer, ion transfer, and proton transfer reactions at the interface between two immiscible liquids are important for understanding processes such as ion extraction, " phase transfer catalysis, drug delivery, and ion channel dynamics in membrane biophysics. The study of reactions at the water liquid/vapor interface is of crucial importance in atmospheric chemistry. Understanding the behavior of solute molecules adsorbed at these interfaces and their reactivity is also of fundamental theoretical interest. The surface region is an inhomogeneous environment where the asymmetry in the intermolecular forces may produce unique behavior. 

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