🔍 Key Concepts

• alkalinity vs. acidity in boiler water and how each affects metal surfaces • the meaning of caustic conditions and what they do to steel under stress • difference between embrittlement, scale formation, and corrosion in boilers

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: if water is excessively alkaline, is it closer to a caustic or an acidic condition? Which listed effect matches that environment? • Which answer choice describes damage related to metal becoming more brittle under stress, and which ones describe chemical attack or deposits? • Think about which problems are usually linked with dissolved minerals vs. high pH (alkalinity). Which choice best fits a high pH situation?

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm that alkaline = high pH, caustic, basic, not acidic • Identify which choice is specifically associated with brittle metal under caustic stress rather than general corrosion or scale • Rule out any options that clearly relate to acid attack or mineral scale rather than high alkalinity effects