Rusting

Teresa, Winnie, Jaime and Haley

Definition

Rust is formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture forming hydrated iron(III) oxides. Rusting is the corrosion of iron and readily occurs in the alloy steel. The formation of a reddish brown flakes which loosely adheres to the iron is called rust.

Theory of Rusting
This is an electrochemical process involving an anode, an electrolyte and a cathode. When metal corrodes, the electrolyte provides oxygen to the anode. As oxygen reacts with the metal, electrons are liberated. When they flow through the electrolyte to the cathode, the metal of the anode disappears, swept away by the electrical flow or converted into metal cations in a form of rust.

How is rust formed?

Fe is oxidized to Fe2+ Pit developed on the surface Oxygen is reduced to hydroxide ions (impurity) Water acts as the electrolyte of the reaction Electrons flow from pit to impurity Iron (II) hydroxide is formed to undergo oxidation forming hydrated (III) oxide

Factors that effect rate of rusting

Purity of the iron Stress intensity Electrolyte composition Oxygen concentration

Equation of reaction
1. 2. 3. 4. 2Fe(s) + 2H2O(l) + O2(g) ==> 2Fe2+(aq) + 4OH-(aq) Fe2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ==> Fe(OH)2(s) Fe(OH)2(s) =O2=> Fe(OH)3(s) Fe(OH)3(s) =dehydrates==> Fe2O3.nH2O(s) or rust

The chemical formula for rust is Fe2O3.nH2O

12 Principles of Green Chemistry

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Prevention Atom economy Less hazardous chemical syntheses Designing safer chemicals Safer solvents and auxiliaries Design for energy efficiency Use of renewable feedstock Reduce derivatives Catalysis Design for degradation Real-time analysis for pollution prevention Inherently safer chemistry for accident prevention

Equipment Market Price

Magnesium strips (RM120 per kilo) Zinc strips (RM40 per kilo) Copper strips (RM 160 per kilo) Chromium strips (RM 100 per kilo) Petroleum jelly (RM20 per kilo) Plastic covers (RM10 per kilo) Copper sulphate and copper strips (RM40 per set)

Rusting in a steel nail

Steel is an alloy made of iron and carbon. The carbon atoms in steel greatly increase the strength of the metal. They prevent the iron atoms in the crystal lattice from slipping over one another.

Steel is widely used in the manufacture of cars, white goods and the construction industry because it is much stronger than iron. The carbon atoms in steel however, greatly decrease the ability of iron to resist corrosion.

Methods for Preventing Rusting

Galvanization Cathodic Prevention Coatings and Paintings Electro plating Grease Tinning Alloy formation

Galvanization
The process of applying a thin layer of zinc coating to steel or iron to prevent rusting. The most common type of galvanization is hot-dip galvanizing.

Cathodic Prevention

This is a technique used to control the corrosion of an iron or steel by using a sacrificial anode of an electrochemical cell. This is done by connecting the iron (cathode) to a more active metal which corrodes more easily.

Coatings and Paintings

By using oil paints, it prevents water and/or oxygen coming into contact with the iron.

Electroplating
Metals used in electroplating:
Nickel Chromium

Plating with a less reactive metal it prevents the iron from coming into contact with water and oxygen. Plating with a more reactive metal prevents contact with water and oxygen and slows down rate of corrosion even when the coating is damaged.

Zn(s) + Fe2+(aq) -----> Zn2+(aq) + Fe(s)

Tinning

This is the process where a thin layer of thin is coated over the iron object. The tin acts as an inert barrier which is impermeable to steel and oxygen/water. The tin forms a thin oxide layer, preventing further corrosion.

Alloy Formation
This is where iron is converted into an alloy such as stainless steel by fusing it with carbon, chromium and nickel in a definite proportion to prevent corrosion. This allows an impermeable oxide layer on the iron surface preventing rusting.

Aim

To come up with the best method of prevention of rusting for a trampoline following the 12 principles of green chemistry in the required budget.

Prediction
The nail wrapped in magnesium will rust the least as its electrons are transferred on to the iron nail, therefore causing the magnesium to rust instead of the iron. Vice versa, the nail wrapped in copper will rust the most. The more reactive metal would then transfer its electrons, increasing the rate of rusting. Nails wrapped in grease, Vaseline or paint would work depending on the efficiency of its coating. If gaps are present, it would cause the nail to be exposed to oxygen and water, therefore causing the nail to rust.

Method
1. 2. 3. 4. Prepare 21 test tubes and 3 test tube racks (7 test tubes for each test tube rack) and label them. Select 18 nails which do not show any signs of rusting and clean them thoroughly with cleaning solution and dry them. Wrap 3 iron nails in each type of protection - copper, magnesium, zinc, paint, oil, petroleum jelly. Leave three nails untouched. Add 4cm of either hydrochloric acid, distilled water or salt water into one test tube each Leave it for a while and add Potassium Hexacyanoferrate into each test tube as the corrosion indicator. Leave it for a few days before getting final result. Take the nails out of their respected test tubes. Scrape off the coating Judge whether it has rusted by the state of the iron nail and the colour of the potassium hexacyanaferrate.

5.
6. 7. 8. 9.

Dependent and independent variables

Dependent variables:
The conditions of the iron nails after the experiment

Independent variables:
Types of liquid the iron nails were in: (distilled water, salt water, hydrochloric acid) Materials used to prevent the nails from rusting

Constant variables:
Identical nails (same size, same type) Volume of reactants (5cm3) Duration of the experiment

Results
Method Normal Petroleum Jelly No rust Grease Paint Magnesium Zinc Copper Distilled Water Rusted Rusted Rusted No rust No rust Rusted

Salt Water

Rusted

No rust

Rusted

Rusted

Rusted

No rust

Rusted

Hydrochloric Rusted acid

No rust

Rusted

Rusted

Rusted

No rust

Rusted

Petroleum Jelly

Conclusion

THANK YOU.

Jaime, Teresa, Winnie and Haley