(B) Rusting as a Redox Reaction

OBJECTIVES After this lesson, you should be able to: State the conditions for the rusting of iron State what corrosion of metal is Describe the process of rusting in terms of oxidation and reduction Generate ideas on the use of other metals to control rusting Explain with examples on the use of a more electropositive metal to control metal corrosion Explain with examples on the use of a less electropositive metal to control metal corrosion Describe efforts to prevent corrosion of metals
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What is Rusting?
Rusting is the corrosion of iron.
When iron corrodes, it forms a flaky or powdery brown coating called rust.

Condition for Rusting of Iron

Two conditions are required at the same time for rusting to occur : (a) the presence of air(oxygen) (b) the presence of water

Corrosion of Metal
corrosion of metal is a redox reaction in which a metal is oxidized naturally to its ions, resulting in partial or complete destruction of the metal.

Examples of corrosion of metal

Iron rusting Silver tarnish (dull) Green substance formed on brass or bronze

Gold and platinum are called noble metals because they are very unreactive metal and never corrode.

 When corrosion occurred, the metal surface loses its luster ( shine ) and become tarnished (dull). If corrosion continues , the metal will be eaten up by rust and break

Corrosion of Metal
The more electropositive a metal is, the easier for it to corrode. This is because a more electropositive metal can easily loses its electrons to form positive ions.

M(s) Mn+(aq) + ne-

 Sodium and potassium are very reactive and must be kept in paraffin oil to protect them from oxidized by air and water.
Aluminium corrodes quickly in the air to form a coating of a tightly packed and non-porous aluminium oxide, Al2O3 This aluminium oxide prevents the aluminium underneath from further corrosion.
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 Lead, zinc, chromium and nickel also form hard metal oxides that are impermeable to water and air.
These protective oxide coating prevent the metals from further corrosion. Magnesium and iron when corroded, form oxide layers that are porous and not tightly packed, weak and easily crack.
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Rusting as a Redox Reaction

Oxidizing Agent : Reducing Agent :

oxygen Iron
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Mechanism of Rusting
The surface of iron in the middle of the water droplet act as anode. The iron is oxidized to iron(II) ion, Fe2+ by the loss of e-. Fe(s) Fe2+ (aq) + 2e-

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Mechanism of Rusting
The e- released by iron flow to the edge of the water droplet where there is plenty of dissolved oxygen. The iron surface there acts as cathode. The e- are gained by oxygen and is reduced to hydroxide ion, OH O2 (g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e- 4OH (aq)
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Mechanism of Rusting
The iron(II) ions, Fe2+ combined with the hydroxide ions, OH to form iron(II) hydroxide, Fe(OH)2.

2Fe(s) + O2 (g) + 2H2O(l) 2Fe(OH)2 (s)

iron(II) hydroxide

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Mechanism of Rusting
The iron(II) hydroxide, Fe(OH)2 is not stable. It is then rapidly oxidized by oxygen to form brown hydrated iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3.xH2O. This hydrated iron(III) oxide is called rust.

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Factors affect the rate of Rusting

The presence of acids The presence of electrolytes (salt solution) The presence of contact metal

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Factors affect the rate of Rusting

Rusting occurs faster in the presence of acids and salts solution. These substance increase the electrical conductivity of water, making it a better electrolyte. Thus, rusting of iron occurs more rapidly in areas
near the sea (contains salts vapours) in industrial areas (polluted by acidic gases such as NO2 and SO2 )
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Factors affect the rate of Rusting

When iron is in contact with a more electropositive metal, such as Mg, rusting is prevented. This is because Mg can lose its e- more readily than iron to form Mg2+. The e- release by Mg flow to the iron. The oxygen gains the electrons and is reduced to hydroxide ions. Mg corrodes instead of the iron.
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Factors affect the rate of Rusting

When iron is in contact with a less electropositive metal, such as Cu, rusting occurs faster. The iron will corrode more rapidly. This is because the Fe can lose its electrons more readily than Cu. Thus, the Fe loses e- and rusted.
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Prevention of Rusting
Apply paint, oil, grease or put on plastic coating to protects the iron surface from in contact with air and water. Plating iron with tin or chromium

Galvanizing iron with zinc

Using the sacrificial metal (more electropositive metal) Alloying iron with carbon, chromium or nickel.
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Practice B1
1. State the condition required for metal to rust? 2. (a) Write the chemical equation for the rusting of iron. Assume the formula of rust as Fe2O3.H2O (b) explain why a layer of grease applied on to an iron object will prevent iron from rusting. 3(a) What is meant by Galvanized iron? (b) Explain why galvanized iron does not rust when its surface is scratched.

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