Lab practice: investigating rusting

Introduction: Rust is a problem almost everywhere in the country except the southwest. Its the cause of
bridges collapsing, cars prematurely aging, and fire escapes failing. Even your bicycle is not immune from this
problem as fenders often become rusty, especially as water slicks up in this area.
When you hear the term chemical reaction, you probably dont think of your bicycle rusting after you
leaving it out in the rain!but rust is indeed the result of a chemical reaction" # chemical reaction happens
when one or more different substances is changed into something else. $or instance, when baking soda is
combined with vinegar, carbon dioxide gas!a new substance!is created. In a chemical reaction, our starting
substances are called the reactants% the substances at the end are called products.
Corrosion is the chemical reaction where metals break down slowly because of other elements in their
environment. Rusting, a well known example of corrosion, is the breakdown of the metal iron by oxidation.
&xidation occurs when an element 'in this case, iron( loses an electron. )he reactants of this chemical reaction
are iron, water, and oxygen, and the product is hydrated iron oxide, better known as rust. Rust, unlike iron, is
crumbly, orange, and pretty much useless for building things.
The chemical compounds found in liquids like acid rain, seawater and the salt-loaded spray
from snow-belt roads make them better electrolytes than pure water, allowing their
presence to speed the process of rusting on iron and other forms of corrosion on other
metals. Therefore, iron rusts faster when exposed to salt water, which is why salting snowy roads is hard on
cars. *ikewise, bridges over salt water 'such as the +olden +ate ,ridge in -an $rancisco( need more regular
maintenance. )his is one of the reasons that acid rain caused by pollution is so harmful.
Problem: What substances cause iron to rust
!ypothesis: ...................................................................
...................................................................
"aterial:
/ test tubes with bungs 'make sure they are
completely dry(
*abels or tape
0ermanent marker
)ablespoon
)easpoon
Iron nails
1istilled water
2egetable oil
Ruler
3inc
2inegar
Procedure:
*abel your test tubes as follows4
#est tube $ #est tube % #est tube & #est tube ' #est tube (
5ontrol 'water and
oxygen(
6o water 6o oxygen Water, oxygen and vinegar Water, oxygen and 7inc
-et up )ube 84
8. 0ut an iron nail at the bottom of test tube 8.
9. 0our enough distilled water into the tube to cover the nail completely. )his tube acts as your control
because it has all the components we commonly associate with rust formation.
:. 1o not put on a bung. Knowing that this tube is our control, why would we want to leave the lid off of the
tube?
-et ;p )ube 9
8. 0ut an iron nail at the bottom of test tube 9.
9. <ake sure to remove all the water from the tube.
:. <ake sure to screw the tube=stopper tightly.
)et *p #ube &
8. 0ut an iron nail at the bottom of test tube :.
9. #dd enough oil to cover the nail with a 8 > 9 cm layer of oil. What do you think the purpose of adding oil is?
:. 5arefully pour distilled water into the tube until a 9 > : cm layer is formed. After a couple of seconds,
where does the oil layer go?
?. <ake sure to screw the tube=stopper on tightly.
)et ;p )ube ?
8. 0ut an iron nail at the bottom of test tube ?.
9. #dd enough water to cover the nail completely.
:. #dd one tablespoon of vinegar.
?. 1o not put on a tube=stopper in the tube.
)et ;p )ube /
8. 0ut an iron nail at the bottom of test tube /.
9. #dd enough water to cover the nail completely.
:. #dd one teaspoon of 7inc.
?. 1o not put on a tube=stopper in the tube.
-et all your tubes in a @uiet place and wait until you see rust in one of your Aars.
Results4 Bou are likely to get results in 89=9? hours.
1iscussion and results4 <ake observations about samples 'iron nails( showing rust.
So how does rust form, exactly? 1oes any sample show more rust than others doC WhyC Explain your
observations scientifically including the chemical reactions.
Investigate and describe methods of rust prevention.