What is the destructive alteration of metal by reaction with its environment called?

The destructive alteration of metal due to a chemical reaction with its environment is termed corrosion. This process involves the gradual degradation of materials, predominantly metals, when they react with environmental factors such as water, air, salts, and other substances. Corrosion typically results in the loss of structural integrity and can lead to failures in equipment and infrastructure if not properly managed.

Corrosion is a broad term that encompasses various specific types of deterioration, including rusting, which specifically refers to the corrosion of iron and its alloys when exposed to moisture and oxygen, leading to the formation of iron oxide. While oxidation is a key process in corrosion where metals lose electrons and react with oxygen, it does not fully encapsulate the broader concept of corrosion, which can also involve reactions with acids, bases, or other elements.

Weathering, on the other hand, typically describes the breakdown of materials (including geological materials and man-made structures) through environmental exposure, but does not explicitly refer to the chemical transformation of metals as seen in corrosion. Therefore, corrosion serves as the most accurate term to describe the overall destructive alteration of metal by various environmental interactions.