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Subjects · Leaving Cert Engineering

Leaving Cert Engineering: Corrosion & protection

How often Corrosion & protection comes up on the Engineering papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Engineering course. These come from the 2016–2025 papers, so read them as a guide.

Corrosion & protection, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Corrosion & protection.

(a)What two things must be present for iron to rust?
  1. Oxygen only
  2. Oxygen and water
  3. Water and carbon dioxide only
(b)Galvanising protects steel with a coating of?
  1. Chromium
  2. Tin
  3. Zinc
(c)Fretting corrosion is caused by?
  1. Tiny repeated rubbing between loaded surfaces
  2. Stagnant water in a crevice
  3. Two different metals in an electrolyte
Show the answers

(a) Oxygen and water

(b) Zinc

(c) Tiny repeated rubbing between loaded surfaces

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Corrosion & protection.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1(h)
2024Q5
2023Q1(i)
2022Q1(i)
2021Q1(l)
2019Q1(i)
2018Q2
2017Q1(b)
2016Q1(l)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Corrosion & protection questions

Corrosion & protection, 2 marks

Chromium plating is applied to a steel part by?

  1. Electroplating, with the steel part as the anode
  2. Dipping it in molten chromium, then cooling
  3. Electroplating, with the part as the cathode
Show the answer

Electroplating, with the part as the cathode

In electroplating the part is the cathode in a bath of chromium salts. Current deposits a thin chromium layer, usually over nickel, for a bright, hard finish.

Corrosion & protection, 3 marks

Crevice corrosion is most likely to occur?

  1. On clean, dry steel sealed under a painted coat
  2. In narrow gaps where water is trapped and stagnant
  3. On a smooth, open surface washed by fast-moving air
Show the answer

In narrow gaps where water is trapped and stagnant

Trapped water in a gap, e.g. under a washer or seal, loses its oxygen. An oxygen difference sets up a cell and the metal inside the crevice corrodes.

Corrosion & protection, 3 marks

How does impressed current cathodic protection protect a steel pipeline?

  1. A DC supply makes the steel the cathode
  2. A tin coating seals the steel surface
  3. Zinc-rich paint is sprayed onto the pipe
Show the answer

A DC supply makes the steel the cathode

A DC source drives current from inert anodes through the soil to the pipe. The steel becomes the cathode, so it does not corrode. It suits long pipelines and jetties.

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