What term describes wearing away due to chemical reactions, mainly oxidation?

• A. Corrosion
• B. Erosion
• C. Wear
• D. Oxidation

Answer: (A)

Corrosion describes the wearing away of a material caused by chemical or electrochemical reactions with its environment. In metals, oxidation is a common mechanism—oxygen reacting with the metal to form oxides (rust is the classic example for iron). But corrosion is the broader process, encompassing the whole degradation driven by chemical reactions, not just the one chemical step. Erosion and wear are mechanical removals caused by physical forces, and oxidation by itself is a chemical reaction, not the complete degradation process.