Characteristic of the Iron Group General Properties Pure iron is silvery in colour, is not very hard, and is quite

reactive. The finely divided metal is pyrophoric. Dry air has little effect on massive Fe, but moist air quite quickly oxides the metal to hydrous ferric oxide (rust). This forms a non-coherent layer which flakes off, and exposes more metal to attack. Iron dissolves in cold dilute non-oxidizing acids, forming Fe2+ and liberating hydrogen. If the acid is warm and if air is present some Fe3+ ions are formed as well as Fe2+, whilst-oxidizing acids give only Fe3+. Strong oxidizing agents uch as con concentrated HNO3 or K2Cr2O7 passivate the metal because of the formation of a protective coat of oxide. If this layer is scratched, the exposed metal is once again vulnerable to chemical attack. Fe is slightly amphoteric. It is nit affected by dilute NaOH, but it is attacked by concentrated NaOH.

In contrast Ru and Os are noble, and are very resistant to attack by acids. However, Os is oxidized to OsO4 by aqua regia. The rusting of iron is special case of corrosion, and is of great practical importance. The process is very complex, but a simplified explanation is that Fe atoms are converted to Fe2+ ions and electrons, the electrons move to a more noble metal which may be present as an impurity in the iron, or in conract with it. The lectrons dischargr H+ ions present in the water, forming hydrogen, which reacts with atmospheric oxygen to give water :

The iron becomes positive and forms the anode, and the noble metal serves as the catode, i.e small local elextrochemical cells are formed in the surface, the Fe2+ ions are subsequently oxidized to Fe(+III), either Fe.OH, Fe2O3 or Fe3O4. Since the oxide does not form a coherent protective film, corrosion continous. The prevent corrosion, O2, H2O and the impurities must be excluded. In practice Fe is often given a protective coating to exclude the water. Electroplating Fewith a thin layer of Sn is widely used and 11.7 million tonnes of tin plate were produced in 1985. Other methods include hot dipping the Fr in molten zinc, galvanizing (electroplating wuth Zn), Sherardizing, and painting with red lead. Another effective treatment is to convert the outer layer of iron into iron phosphate. This may be done by treating with phosphoric acid or acid

solutions of Mn(H2PO4)2 or Zn(H2PO4)2 in the Parkerizing and Bonderizing processes. Alternatively a sacrificial anode may be used which makes the iron the cathode i the electrolytic cell. Ru and Os noble, and do not react with water.