Which metal forms a green patina?

Prepare for the Sheet Metal Trade Exam. Boost your understanding with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each comes with hints and explanations. Ace the SMWIA 2nd Year exam!

Multiple Choice

Which metal forms a green patina?

Explanation:
Green patina shows up on copper when it slowly corrodes in moist air with CO2 and pollutants. The copper reacts to form copper carbonate and other compounds, which gradually turn into verdigris—the familiar green coating. This patina actually helps protect the metal from further corrosion. Other metals don’t form green patinas: lead develops dull gray oxides, aluminum forms a thin, protective white oxide, and galvanized steel (zinc coating) gives a grayish or whitish oxide rather than green. So the metal that forms a green patina is copper.

Green patina shows up on copper when it slowly corrodes in moist air with CO2 and pollutants. The copper reacts to form copper carbonate and other compounds, which gradually turn into verdigris—the familiar green coating. This patina actually helps protect the metal from further corrosion. Other metals don’t form green patinas: lead develops dull gray oxides, aluminum forms a thin, protective white oxide, and galvanized steel (zinc coating) gives a grayish or whitish oxide rather than green. So the metal that forms a green patina is copper.

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