Corrosion of Iron

PRE-LAB DISCUSSION Corrosion is a redox reaction in which a free metal is oxidized, or corroded, by some oxidizing agent. In nature, the oxidizing agent is frequently atmospheric oxygen dissolved in water. Perhaps the most familiar example of corrosion is the rusting of iron. In this reaction, free iron, Fe, is oxidized to Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. In the reduction half-reaction, oxygen, O2, reacts with water to from OH- ions. The rusting of iron is usually considered to be a destructive change, and considerable time and money are expended to prevent it. One method, which you will observe in this experiment, makes use of a sacrificial: metal. When iron is placed in contact with a more active metal (one that is more easily oxidized), the more active metal will be corroded instead of the iron. Metals situated below iron on the table of standard electrode potentials can function as sacrificial metals. In this experiment, indicators will be used to signal the formation of Fe2+ ions and OHions as products of the corrosion of iron. One such indicator, hexacyanoferrate (III) ion, turns blue in the presence of Fe2+ ions. The other, phenophthalein, turns pink in the presence of OH ions. This experiment should help promote a better understanding of corrosion and of oxidationreduction reactions. PURPOSE Observe the corrosion of iron and investigate conditions related to corrosion. EQUIPMENT balance Hot Plate Graduated cylinder, 100-mL Beaker, 250-mL Metric ruler

glass stirring rod safety glasses Petri dishes (2 halves) steel wool or emery paper

MATERIALS 0.1 M K3Fe(CN)6 (potassium hexacyanoferrate (III)) Agar powder copper wire, 5-cm 1% phenolphthalein solution zinc strip, 5-cm Distilled water iron nails (4)

*Students should wear safety glasses and protective clothing at all times when working in the lab.
PROCEDURE 1. Use the hot plate at your station to cook the Agar solution (Receipt for two teams). Add 150mL of distilled water to the 250-mL beaker and heat to boiling. While the water is being heated, clean 4 iron nails with steel wool or emery paper. 2. Using the balance, measure out 1.5g of agar powder. When the water is boiling slowly add the agar to the water, stirring constantly. Bring the Agar back to a boil and cook at least 2 minutes. Remove from the hot plate and allow mixture to cool at least 2 minutes. 3. After the agar solution has cooled, add 12 drops of 0.1 M K3Fe(CN)6 and 5 drops of phenolphthalein solution.

4. Place 1 bent iron nail and 1 straight iron nail into one of the Petri dishes. Be sure the nails do not touch and are positioned as shown in Figure Petri dish A below. 5. Tightly wrap one of the remaining nail with copper wire and the other with the zinc strip. Place these nails in the other Petri dish, as shown in Figure Petri dish B below. 6. When the agar solution is cool enough, pour it into each Petri dish to a depth of 0.5cm. Make and record observations in the time remaining. At the end of the lab period, place the dishes in your drawer to be observed on the following day.

OBSERVATIONS AND DATA Petri dish A:

Petri dish B:

Cu wire

Zn wire

CALCULATIONS: 1. Write a balanced net ionic redox equation using the half-reaction method for the reaction between Iron and oxygen (in a base solution) observed in this experiment. Fe Fe+3, O2 OH2. Write a balanced net ionic redox equation using the half-reaction method for the reaction between Zinc and oxygen (in a base solution) observed in this experiment. Zn Zn+2, O2 OHCONCLUSIONS AND QUESTIONS 1. Explain why corrosion occurred at the sites indicated by the blue color in Petri dish A. 2. What is the whitish material surrounding the zinc-wrapped nail in Petri dish B? 3. Explain why the zinc-wrapped nail showed no evidence of corrosion, while the copperwrapped nail did. 4. Would a magnesium wrapping prevent the corrosion of iron? Explain. 5. Why would sodium metal not be appropriate as a sacrificial metal in this experiment?