Given below are two statements :

Statement (I) : Corrosion is an electrochemical phenomenon in which pure metal acts as an anode and impure metal as a cathode.

Statement (II) : The rate of corrosion is more in alkaline medium than in acidic medium.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :

<p>Let’s examine both statements one by one and see whether they hold true for typical corrosion processes (e.g., iron rusting):</p> <hr /> <h2>Statement (I)</h2> <blockquote> <p>"Corrosion is an electrochemical phenomenon in which pure metal acts as an anode and impure metal as a cathode."</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Corrosion is electrochemical</strong> </p> <p>True. Corrosion, especially rusting of iron, involves oxidation at one region (the anode) and reduction at another region (the cathode) on the metal’s surface. </p> <p><strong>Pure metal as anode, impurity as cathode</strong> </p> <p><p>In many practical cases (e.g., iron containing small amounts of carbon or other impurities), the <em>relatively pure</em> region of the iron is more active (less noble) and tends to oxidize (lose electrons) — that is, it serves as the anode. </p></p> <p><p>The impurity (e.g., carbon-rich region) often behaves more nobly and thus becomes the cathode region where reduction (e.g., oxygen reduction) occurs. </p></p> <p><p>This difference in electrode potentials between the pure region and the impurity region drives the corrosion cell. </p></p> <p>Hence, <strong>Statement (I)</strong> is generally considered <strong>true</strong> in the usual context of corrosion (like rusting of iron).</p> <hr /> <h2>Statement (II)</h2> <blockquote> <p>"The rate of corrosion is more in alkaline medium than in acidic medium."</p> </blockquote> <p><p>For most common metals (like iron), <strong>acidic</strong> media typically enhance corrosion because abundant H⁺ ions (and possibly other acidic species) can accelerate the oxidation/dissolution of the metal. </p></p> <p><p>In <em>mildly</em> alkaline or neutral environments, metals often form protective oxide or hydroxide layers that can slow down further corrosion. </p></p> <p><p>While certain strong bases can attack specific metals (e.g., Al in strong NaOH), <strong>in general</strong> for iron and many other metals, corrosion is more severe in acidic environments than in alkaline ones.</p></p> <p>Thus, <strong>Statement (II)</strong> is <strong>false</strong> under normal corrosion scenarios (e.g., rusting of iron).</p> <hr /> <h2>Conclusion</h2> <p><p><strong>Statement (I)</strong>: <strong>True</strong> </p></p> <p><p><strong>Statement (II)</strong>: <strong>False</strong></p></p> <p>Therefore, the correct choice (matching these truth values) is:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>(C) Statement I is true but Statement II is false.</strong></p> </blockquote>