Uniform attack on a metal surface by its environment is known as which term?

• A. General corrosion
• B. Local corrosion
• C. Erosion
• D. Galvanic corrosion

Answer: (A)

General corrosion is the kind of attack where the entire exposed surface of a metal deteriorates at roughly the same rate due to a uniform environment. The metal reacts with oxidizing agents, water, or other corrosive species spread evenly across the surface, leading to a steady, overall thinning rather than localized damage. This contrasts with local corrosion, where pits, crevices, or others form in specific spots due to micro-environment differences. Erosion involves mechanical wear from fluid flow or particles, not a chemical redox process on the surface. Galvanic corrosion requires two different metals in electrical contact within an electrolyte, causing preferential dissolution of one metal. So the description of uniform, surface-wide attack fits general (uniform) corrosion perfectly.