Using the Excel Solver function to calculate the corrosion rate of carbon steel in a 3.5% O2-saturated NaCl solution: A practical tutorial

Abstract

Excel is a software developed and distributed by Microsoft Corp. It allows to perform accounting and financial tasks using spreadsheets, it is included in Microsoft Office and is widely used worldwide to perform many different operations. Solver is an Excel add-in function, with this add-in it is possible to adjust experimental data using linear and non-linear functions. These tasks are common in laboratory experiments of physics and electrochemistry courses, specifically for the adjustment of current-potential curves experimental data to non-linear electrochemical kinetic models. These models allow the calculation of carbon steel corrosion rate under mixed control kinetic conditions. 
This type of theoretical-practical laboratory experiences allows students to integrate physics and electrochemistry knowledge with knowledge of mathematics and computation.