embarrassing question

[RobertSmith]

I must confess, this is an embarrassing question, I'm having a brain dump.

The green substance , chemicals on copper water supply lines, faucets you typcially see is known as oxidation or corrosion?

Sorry for the question, been working too hard I guess!

Rob

[Ron Bibler]

Galvanic action.

Best

Ron

[Raymond Wand]

Oxidation
What is Oxidation? (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-oxidation.htm)

[RobertSmith]

Raymond,

Great little article, thanks!

Rob

[Joe Asta]

copper patina? Corrosion?

[Jerry Peck]

The green substance , chemicals on copper water supply lines, faucets you typcially see is known as oxidation or corrosion?


Oxidation
What is Oxidation? (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-oxidation.htm)


copper patina? Corrosion?

Yes to all of the above.

What is Corrosion? (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-corrosion.htm)

Oxidation and/or corrosion - not quite completely interchangeable in all uses but are interchangeable in some uses.

51386. The difference between corrosion and oxidation? [Japan] (http://www.finishing.com/513/86.shtml)

[Gunnar Alquist]

I must confess, this is an embarrassing question, I'm having a brain dump. The green substance , chemicals on copper water supply lines, faucets you typcially see is known as oxidation or corrosion? Sorry for the question, been working too hard I guess! Rob

Verdigris.

Verdigris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris)

[scott wright]

I have a question. Is it just the exterior of the pipe or is it staining the inside of the sinks?

[Robert Autrey]

The question I have is will it soon lead to leaking. Should the components be replaced?

[Randy Aldering]

Nice information Jerry. If the joint is clean and the amount of oxidized copper is minimal, I usually note it as "oxidation". If there appears to be excess flux that was never removed, causing deterioration of the pipe or fitting, I usually note it as "corrosion".

[Mike Truss Guy]

Isn't oxidation a type of corrosion that happens in when metals are exposed to the oxygen in air?

[Jerry Peck]

Isn't oxidation a type of corrosion that happens in when metals are exposed to the oxygen in air?

Basically, I think, it goes through oxidation first. Everything oxidizes, some at slower rates that others. Once the oxidation has progressed to the point of causing a detrimental effect on the material which has oxidized, that now becomes corrosion, which makes the material corroded, which means the material has been negatively affected by the oxidation.

Or something like that. :D

Like when steel oxidizes and forms surface rust, which helps protect the steel, yet more rust becomes corrosion and the steel is degraded.

[Steven Bowman]

I see this in my area. At times the oxidation/corrosion is excessive and damp (beginning to leak). My plumber freinds tell me it due to low PH (below 6.5) well water, which is typical is this part of the country.
I write it up as potential leaks and/or currently leaking depending on the actual observation.

[Robert Autrey]

Maybe I can ask my question a different way? Does anybody know? I see this type of corrosion (I'll call it that for now) all the time. Some of the responses here seem to indicate that it will occur even without a leak being present. Is that the consensus opinion? And, if so, will it eventually cause a leak? Maybe? Probably? I can see that it could occur without a leak being present, but it has to be damaging, or depleting, the metal. Right?

[Jerry Peck]

The green substance ... on copper ... you typcially see is known as oxidation ...

I'll answer the question differently ... Yes. :)

[Robert Autrey]

I'll answer the question differently ... Yes. :)

Thanks! That's the answer I was looking for!