QUESTION:
Is Mars' atmosphere corrosive?

ANSWER from Jim Murphy on August 6, 1997:
The martian atmosphere is not corrosive.  It's main components (carbon
dioxie: 95%, argon: a few percent, nitrogen: a few percent, oxygen: less
than one percent, carbon monoxide and water: both much less than one
percent, and more stuff at very, very small levels, are like those here on
Earth, though in quite different proportions).  There is indication that
some of the materials in the soil are "corrosive", maybe especially so to
organic materials, but the atmosphere is not generally corrosive.

Jim Murphy
Mars Pathfinder ASI/MET Team Member