How Is Salt Water Corrosive?

How Is Salt Water Corrosive? What causes corrosion? Corrosion occurs when metal atoms react with their environment. Rusting is a common form of corrosion, created when iron reacts with oxygen molecules to form iron oxide. Salt water speeds this process by forming an electrolyte solution. How is salt corrosive? Salt (chlorides) and pollutants (e.g. sulfur