What is the term for the corrosion and weakening of brass objects due to zinc dissolving?

The correct answer is dezincification, which specifically refers to the selective corrosion process affecting brass, which is an alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc. During this process, zinc is preferentially leached out, leading to the weakening and deterioration of the brass object. The result is a porous, weakened material that is no longer as strong or durable.

It is important to understand that while corrosion is a broad term describing the deterioration of materials due to chemical reactions with their environment, dezincification is a specific type of corrosion related directly to brass due to the loss of zinc. Oxidation, on the other hand, refers to a chemical reaction where a substance loses electrons, which can happen to metals but is not specific to the mechanism of dezincification. Electrolysis involves the decomposition of a substance due to an electric current and typically occurs in the presence of an electrolyte, making it unrelated to the corrosion of brass under standard conditions.