There are several examples of heuristic rules first proposed from empirical observation, which eventually earned physicochemical validity after the fundamental derivation of a posteriori. This may be the case of Sherwood’s plot – for which a sound rationalization from first principles, entailing enthalpy and mass balances, is provided here; it applies to (fine) chemicals undergoing concentr...

Mature passive films (age > 10 s) were grown in aerated saturated calcium hydroxide solution, at the open circuit, on plain steel and alloys with 9% and 22% Cr, as well as austenitic stainless steels. The materials were commercially produced concrete reinforcing steels. Differences in the polarization of the oxygen reduction reaction were evidenced. Oxygen reduction rates at moderate cathodic p...