Rusting

Rustis a brownish-red substance that forms on

the surface of iron or steel when it is exposed to damp air. The term used alone means iron rust, which consists mainly of hydrated iron oxide (3Fe₂0₃∙H₂O).

Rust is formed by the union of the oxygen of the air with the iron by a process called oxidation.

Rust not only corrodes the surface but it also weakens the metal.

Rust is the result of the reaction between a metal and a non-metal.

How rust occur…

We have previously seen how metals

come to form lattices that consist of

alternating layers of positively charged

ions and free electrons. This layered

structure of metal are presented:

Oxygen gas, O₂, consists of two atoms of Oxygen covalently bonded together. This is a fairly stable state for Oxygen but given the opportunity each Oxygen atom will absorb two electrons from elsewhere and have a

full outer shell of 8 electrons without having to share.

We know that the metal Iron has loose

electrons. We also know that each of the

atoms in the oxygen molecule would

prefer to have 8 electrons without having

to share. Let's look at the process in a

series of visual steps:

1. First the oxygen gas molecules, O2, approach the metal:

2. Then the Oxygen molecule breaks apart and each oxygen atom soaks up two of the metal's free electrons, forming the stable oxide ion:

3. The metal lattice now has less electrons than it needs and so some of the positively charged Fe ions will be shed from the lattice.

4. The loose +3 Fe ions and the stable O₂- ions

combine to form the neutral compound Fe₂O₃,

as follows. Note that this is an ionic compound

(a metal and a non-metal together) and that all

ionic compounds have an overall charge of

ZERO:

Short Review

And so a single particle of the rust Fe₂O₃ is

formed. Since this does not form a perfect seal

over the surface of the metal, further oxygen

can get to the surface of the metal, and the

rusting continues.

Finally, rust is…

… the product of the transfer of electrons from the metal (loss of electrons is called oxidation) to the oxygen molecules (gain of electrons is called reduction).

1. Place the ball of steel wool into a glass jar and add enough water to cover the ball.

Procedures, results and Images of my Experiment:

2. Add bleach and vinegar that has the ratio of 4:2, (this mixture is called hypochlorous acid), Stir.

3. In about 5 minutes and on, the liquid is full of red powder. This powder is called ferric oxide (rust). Remove the steel wool from the jar and wait for the powder to settle so that you can see the red powder easily.

Steel wool rusts slowly in water, but quickly in a solution containing hypochlorous acid. In the experiment, the solution used was vinegar and

bleach. The hypochlorous acid (HCIO) in the solution reacts with the iron (Fe) in steel wool

to form hydrated ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃ H₂O).∙

Summary

Hypochlorous Acid Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid with the

chemical formula HClO.

HClO is an oxidizer, and as its sodium salt sodium

hypochlorite, (NaClO), or its calcium salt calcium

hypochlorite, (Ca(CIO)2) used as a bleach and

others.

IronLike other Group 8 elements, iron exists in

a wide range of oxidation states, −2 to + 6, although +2 and +3 are the most common.

Fresh iron surfaces appear lustrous silvery-gray, but oxidize in normal air to give iron oxides, also known as rust.

Unlike many other metals which form passivating oxide layers, iron oxides occupy more volume than iron metal, and thus iron oxides flake off and expose fresh surfaces for corrosion.

Small glass jar small ball of steel wool bleachVinegarWater old spoon/ stick (for stirring)Measuring spoon (for measuring)—if possible

Materials used: