corrosion, rusting question...

[rthmjohn]

Every chemical reaction is electrochemistry. Chemical reactions are the movement of electrons from one atom/molecule to another. So no matter what it is, whether it's the burning of methane or the rusting of iron, it's an electrochemical equation.

 

I thought that the transfer of electrons was only involved in redox reactions? Is there electon transfer in replacement (metathesis/neutralization) reactions? ie HCl + NaOH --> NaCl

[jdurg]

I thought that the transfer of electrons was only involved in redox reactions? Is there electon transfer in replacement (metathesis/neutralization) reactions? ie HCl + NaOH --> NaCl

 

Remember that just because a substance is ionic doesn't mean that the electrons are 100% around the negative ion and NEVER move around the positive ion. ALL bonds have some degree of sharing of electrons. It's just that when a bond reached a certain degree of separation between electronegativities, we call it an ionic bond. In the equation you mentioned above, electrons are transferred in order to form water. (You just happened to leave off the H2O on the product side).