AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS SCHOOL

The Relationship
Between the
Corrosion of Iron and
the Difference in Ph
Levels
Corrosion Investigation
By Jasmin Malhotra
LSG15 Kay Gillett
Marking Teacher: Tisha Beasley
Due: 12th June 2015
Technological World: Metal Materials
SACE Report

Introduction
Corrosion is a natural process. It is the gradual degradation of metals (usually
metals) by the chemicals inside the materials reacting with its environment.
Rusting is a big problem because so many things people use are made out of
some sort of metal, like cars, trucks, bridges, roofs, holding tanks, machinery,
nuts, bolts and nails. The general name used to describe rust is corrosion which
is the slow process that beings with these types of objects being kept
unprotected. However, steel continues to be widely used when because it has an
excellent strength-to-weight ratio which is the best of all common building
materials (Sciencebuddies.org, 2015). However is iron the same? In this
Investigation, Iron will be tested over the period of a week by being immersed in
three different Ph buffer solutions.

Aim
To find a way to promote rust in iron

Hypothesis
If the iron nail is put into a variety of acidic solution, then the nail will decrease in
weight (most likely in the most acidic solution).

Variables
The Independant variable is the Ph levels in the tubes of solution
The Dependant variable is the weight of the iron before and after a specified
period of time (after the practical is completed)
Constant Variables
Weight of iron before put into solutions
Time the metals are left in the solutions
The amount of solution inside test tubes
The Ph levels for the 5 trials

Method
1. All the needed materials ( 15 equal pieces of iron, 15 mini test tubes, HCl,
3 mini test tubes racks, scale, 2 tweezers and safety equipment (safety
glasses, latex gloves and laboratory coat))were collected and placed on
the bench top
2. 3 test tubes were setup in 1 test tube rack with different solutions of Ph
levels (4, 7, 10).

3. A metal iron nail was weighed. This weight was recorded in a table.
4. 3 of the same type nail were placed in each of the test tubes (1 in each
solution) using tweezers.
5. Electric tape was used to label each of the trials.
6. Steps 2-5 were repeated to setup 5 trials for each Ph solution
7. The 15 nails in the 15 test tubes were left for a specific amount of time to
complete the practical.
8. Results of the changes in weight and appearance were record half way
through the practical
9. Results of the changes in weight and appearance were then recorded at
the end of the practical.

Line Diagram
Also, corks were used on top of the test tubes as lids so no liquid could be
evaporated during the week.
2 tweezers

15 Iron nails

15 mini test
tubes

3 mini
test
tube

Figure 1: Line diagram of all materials used in the Investigation3

different pH solutions (4,7

and 10)
This is a visual representation of all the materials used in the practical
Investigation.

3 pipettes for each pH

solution

Results
The results in this practical Investigation show how much rust occurs on
metal iron nails in a solution of different Ph buffer solutions over the
period of a week.

Table 1: Mid- practical Investigation results

Trials

Visuals Ph 4

Ph of 4 (g)

Visuals Ph 7

Ph of 7 (g)

Visuals Ph 10

Ph of 10 (g)

Small rust

1.600

Small rust

1.120

No rust

1.123

Small rust

1.115

Small rust

1.111

Small rust

1.106

No rust

1.125

Small rust

1.127

Small rust

1.116

No rust

1.031

Small rust

1.123

Small rust

1.017

No rust

1.156

Small rust

1.073

Small rust

1.125

Table 1 shows the health of the iron nails through the middle of this investigation.
From these results, the hypothesis is not completely proved correct. In some
cases it is but is not in others.
Table 2: The results throughout the middle of the Investigation

Ph
level
Ph 4
Ph 7
Ph 10

Averaged
weight
1.225
1.111
1.097

Table 2 shows the averaged weights throughout the middle of the practical. It
can be seen that the weights decrease as the Ph level Increases which does
support the hypothesis.

Weight of Iron nails after left in Ph solutions for 4 days

1.25
1.2
1.15
Weight after 4 days 1.1
1.05
1
Ph 4

Ph 7

Ph 10

Ph Level

Figure 2: A visual representation of the results throughout the middle of the

investigation

Figure 1 shows the results throughout the middle of the investigation. This shows
a visual representation of table 2.
Table 3: Final Practical Investigation results

Trials

Visuals Ph 4

Ph of 4 (g)

Visuals Ph 7

Ph of 7 (g)

Visuals Ph 10

Ph of 10 (g)

No rust

1.070

No rust

1.129

No rust

1.128

No rust

1.128

No rust

1.197

No rust

1.106

No rust

1.138

No rust

1.137

No rust

1.109

No rust

1.032

No rust

1.134

No rust

1.143

No rust

1.171

Small rust

1.072

No rust

1.129

Table 3 shows the health of the irons at the end of the investigation. A majority of
the results have shown that the nails have become healthier over time. The
results still vary because the weights and the visuals are not consistent.
Table 4: The final results given the repetitions made

Ph Level
ph 4
ph 7
ph 10

Averaged
Weight
1.108
1.134
1.123

Table 4 shows the finals results from the practical. The results still do not follow a
consistent pattern as the ph level increases or decreases.

Weight of Iron nails after left in Ph solutions for 1 week

Weight after 1 week

ph 4

ph 7

ph 10

Ph Level

Figure 3: A visual representation of the final results

Figure 2 shows the final results in the form of a visual representation. It can
clearly seen that the nails in the Ph 7 and Ph 10 solutions have gained weight
when comparing the second graph to the first. However the nails in the Ph 4
solution have reduced in weight.

Discussion
As said before rusting is an example of a process called corrosion. Corrosion can
be defined as a chemical reaction occurring in which metal atoms have
combined with oxygen to form an oxide coat. When those metal atoms are iron
like the nails used in this Investigation, the corrosion is known to be bad
because it occurs quickly which weakens the original steel material
(Sciencebuddies.org, 2015).
When iron and oxygen merge to create iron oxide (rust), heat is given off which
means the reaction occurring is exothermic1.
Rusting is not just a chemical reaction but an electrochemical process which
consists of the formation of hydrates oxide Fe(OH), FeO(OH) or even FeOHO
(Corrosion-doctors.org, 2015).

1 Exo means "out" and therm means "heat," so heat is sent out when the
reaction occurs

When a water droplet containing a little bit of dissolved oxygen falls onto a steel
pipe, the solid iron (Fe(s)) underneath the droplet oxidizes2. This can be written in
the form of an equation:
Fe(s) --> Fe2+(aq) + 2eAs it can be seen, the (s) has been changed to an (aq). This is because the iron
has been suspended/dissolved in water.
The electrons are then quickly consumed by hydrogen ions from water (HO) and
dissolved oxygen at the edge of the droplet which produces water:
4e- + 4H+(aq) + O2(aq) --> 2H2O(l)
According to research completed in the past and current occurrences, more
acidic water increases corrosion (Corrosion-doctors.org, 2015). If the pH 3 is very
low then the hydrogen ions will consume the electrons anyway, turning the
hydrogen into gas instead of water.
2H+(aq) + 2e- --> H2(g)
The results in this practical do not show any consistency. There is no certain
pattern that can be seen between the Ph levels or the weights. To get a much
clearer answer the practical would have to be completed again with limited
errors and maybe more repetitions to improve the accuracy.
The procedure was done really well. Some improvements could be made to way
things were done however, the procedure was well thought through and all
safety precautions were taken very seriously during the practical.
Possible errors in this investigation could have been not using the same scales.
The scales were used to measure the weight of the nails before and after the
practical. Two different scales were used which could have had different settings
or they might not have been recalibrated and therefore would have given a
larger or smaller weight than the actual weight. Also the conditions the practical
were in would have affected the weights recorded as a lid was not used on the
scales.
Also the corks on top of the mini test tubes could have been placed on tighter.
However some of the corks might have been too small to close the test tube.
Teamwork is needed when recording results as people might see things or
translate results in different ways. Two sets of results were taken. Each time
results needed to be recorded, there was always one person away and therefore
2 undergo or cause to undergo a reaction in which electrons are lost to another species.

3 Power of Hydrogen (Anne Marie Helmenstine, 2015): used by scientists to

determine how acidic or basic a solution is (Studios, 2015)

the other person did not have a say in whether the nails changed since the
beginning of the practical. If this could be repeated, it would be ensured that
both team members are at school on the day results are taken.

Conclusion
The hypothesis stating, If the iron nail is put into a variety of acidic solution,
then the nail will decrease in weight (most likely in the most acidic solution) was
supported given the results recorded half way through the Investigation but
overall the Hypothesis was not supported having done this Investigation. The aim
to find a way to promote rust in iron was achieved but still needs more research
and Investigation to be confirmed.

References
Anne Marie Helmenstine, P. (2015). What Does pH Stand For?. [online] About.com
Education. Available at: http://chemistry.about.com/od/ph/f/What-Does-Ph-StandFor.htm [Accessed 11 Jun. 2015].
Corrosion-doctors.org, (2015). Rust chemistry. [online] Available at:
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Experiments/rust-chemistry.htm [Accessed 11
Jun. 2015].
Sciencebuddies.org, (2015). Rusting Out: How Acids Affect the Rate of Corrosion.
[online] Available at: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_ideas/Chem_p079.shtml#background [Accessed 11 Jun. 2015].
Studios, A. (2015). Chem4Kids.com: Reactions: Acids and Bases. [online]
Chem4kids.com. Available at:
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_acidbase.html [Accessed 11 Jun. 2015].