Why does aluminum not rust?

Answer 1

AluminumRust is the process that ferric metals, those based on iron, oxidize, or combine with oxygen. Aluminum is not a ferric metal, so it won't rust. But it will oxidize, which results in a skin of aluminum oxide coating the metal, which protects it from further oxidation. This is why an aluminum can will take 10,000 years to disintegrate. AnswerTechnically, it corrodes. Aluminum oxide is white and coats aluminum making it less bright. When aluminum starts to get a little less bight, it has oxidized. It's just not called rust since rust refers only to ferric metals.

By seb
It sort of does. Rusting is something iron does when it oxidizes. Aluminum also oxidizes, it just gets white and crusty looking. It finally oxidizes to the point of disappearing.

Answer 2

Aluminum doesn't corrode easily because on contact with air it forms a microscopic layer of aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide is one of the hardest known substances, and this layer protects the aluminum from further oxidation.

Answer 3

The surface of aluminum reacts with oxygen in the air to make a thin but stable layer of aluminum oxide. This is bonded securely to the aluminum and protects the metal from corrosion. Iron reacts with the oxygen in air ( or water) also, but the iron oxide or rust will continue to break away.

Answer 4

Even though aluminium is more reactive than iron, it appears to not corrode as quickly as iron. This is because aluminium reacts with oxygen, forming an oxide layer around the outside, preventing it from corroding further. The oxide layer acts as protection.

Answer 5

All aluminum is corroded. All of it. There are two differences between oxidized aluminum and oxidized iron:

Oxidation on aluminum is aluminum-colored; oxidation on iron is red
The oxidation film on aluminum seals out oxygen, so no more oxidation will take place, but the oxidation film on iron is porous so more oxygen can get in and further oxidize the metal. This reaction will continue until all the iron has oxidized--we call that "rusting through." That can't happen with aluminum because the oxygen can't get through the layer.

Answer 6

It does. It is, however, more stable at the molecular level. It corrodes much slower, unless it is under very exteme conditions, or in contact with corrosive chemicals.

Answer 7

Aluminium is able to resist corrosion because it forms a layer of aluminium oxide on its surface when exposed to air, preventing further corrosion.

Answer 8

On the aluminium surface a coating of protective aluminium oxide is formed.