![Corrosion Rusted metal](/content/dam/images/science/materials-science-engineering/websites/2021-12-materials-online-tutorials/2021-12-corrosion-reactions.cropimg.width=335.crop=video.jpg)
The basic reaction involved in dry corrosion is:
Where M is a metal element.
The metal loses electrons to form an ion and some free electrons. The ionic metal can then react with oxygen to form a metal oxide. In dry corrosion, the oxygen comes from the air, in wet corrosion, the oxygen is supplied by aerated water.