Dissolution of Metal Oxide

Abstract

The dissolution reaction of metal oxide is directly related to the corrosion of metals, the hydrometallurgy and the acid-pickling of metallic materials. There has been a number of the studies on the dissolution reaction of metal oxide under a variety of environment. This article reviews the dissolution theories of ionic crystals proposed independently by Engell and Vermilyea and their application and limitation to the dissolution of metal oxide. Furthermore, discussion is given to the factors which control the dissolution rate such as the potential distribution at the oxide-solution interface, the semiconducting properties of oxide and the redox system in the solution.