2014 Volume 63 Issue 7 Pages 417-426
A comprehensible explanation of the hard and soft acids and bases principle (HSAB principle) is described in this review first. Inhibition and stimulation of the anodic process for iron corrosion in an acid solution containing various anions are interpreted on the basis of the HSAB principle. Further, effects of anions on passive film breakdown of iron in solutions of various anions are discussed using the principle.