Free interactive chemistry · SIM-ELECTRO-005
Corrosion
A drop of water on iron is a tiny electrochemical cell — that is how rust forms.
Open the interactive simulation →How to use this simulation
- Choose the environment: dry air, water + air, or salt water.
- Choose a protection method (paint, zinc coat, tin plate, magnesium block).
- Move the time slider and watch the rust spread.
What to notice
- Rust needs both water and oxygen; salt speeds it up.
- A more reactive metal (Zn, Mg) corrodes instead of iron — sacrificial protection.
Try this
Compare “Galvanised, scratched” with “Tin-plated, scratched”. Which rusts faster, and why?
Try it for free →