Name: Sky D.

Diaz

CORROSION OF IRON

I. Introduction

Corrosion is a natural process that causes the degradation of a material as a result

of its interaction with its environment. This also happens when a newly produced metal is
exposed to air for the first time, causing its originally gleaming surface to rust in a matter
of hours. The tendency of metals to corrode is connected to the limited stability of the
metallic state. The chemical reactions that occur during corrosion processes are
reduction-oxidation reactions. Such reactions necessitate an oxidized species, usually a
metal, and a reduced species. As a result, the overall reaction can be broken down into
two parts: oxidation and reduction. The metal loses electrons during oxidation and the
region where this occurs is known as the anode. The oxidizing agent also obtains the
electrons lost by the metal during the reduction reaction, and the region where this occurs
is the cathode. Corrosion processes, in addition to influencing a metal's chemical
properties, also cause changes in its mechanical behavior and physical qualities.
Moreover, corrosion processes have an impact on many aspects of human activity,
including the usage of metal products. In general, as economic development levels rise,
so do the costs incurred as a result of corrosion. There are numerous strategies for
avoiding or minimizing corrosion, most of which are geared toward slowing corrosion
rates in some way. A number of methods have been developed that are based on
depositing a layer of a second material on the surface of a metal structure to prevent the
structure from coming into contact with a hostile medium. Painting is the most common
of them, and a broad variety of protective paints are now available on the market (Botana
,2015).

This experiment necessitates the application of what has been learned about
corrosion and rusting in order to deduce the products of rusting. Furthermore, the goal of
this experiment is to determine the nature of the chemical process involved in rusting and
to assess the effect of rust on subsequent rusting as well as the effect of sodium chloride
on rusting. This will be accomplished by studying the surfaces of nails exposed to various
solutions.

II. Materials and Reagents

Materials:

• Clean iron nails • Test tubes

• Rusty iron nails • Thermometer
• Small beaker • Tissue paper
• Petri dish
Reagents:

• 3% sodium chloride solution • 3% or 10 volumes of hydrogen

• 10% sodium chloride solution peroxide
• 2 M HCl solution • 10% K3Fe(CN)6
• Phenolphthalein

III. Methodology

Gathering of Materials

The following materials were collected in the laboratory: clean iron nails, rusty iron
nails, small beaker, petri dish, test tubes, thermometer, tissue paper, 3 % sodium chloride
solution, 10 % sodium chloride solution, 2 m HCl solution, 3 % or 10 volumes of hydrogen
peroxide, 10 percent K3Fe(CN)6 and phenolphthalein.

Products of Rusting

A small beaker was filled with 15 mL of 3% sodium chloride solution, four drops of
10% K3Fe(CN)6, and two drops of phenolphthalein. Following that, a strong tissue paper
was soaked in the prepared mixture, and two clean iron nails, one straight and one bent,
were wrapped in the tissue paper. The nails were then placed in a petri dish, and after a
few minutes, the tissue was opened and the colors formed were noted.
The Effect of Rust on Rusting

In two separate test tubes, a new polished iron nail and a rusted iron nail were
placed. 3 % hydrogen peroxide was then added to each test tube until the nails were
completely covered with the solution. After that, the surfaces of the nails were examined.

Effect of Sodium Chloride on Rusting

Three clean iron nails were placed on each of the test tubes labeled A and B. 3%
hydrogen peroxide was then added to each of the test tubes enough to cover the nails
with the solution, and the initial temperature of the solution was measured and recorded.
After measuring the initial temperature, 3 drops of 10% sodium chloride solution were
added to test tube A and 9 drops of the same solution were added to test tube B. The test
tube was then shaken and the changes on the surfaces of the nails were observed. After
about 10 minutes, the temperature of each solution was measured and the amounts of
jelly substances on test tubes A and B were compared. The solution in test tube A, along
with the brown substances, was poured into a test tube labeled C, leaving behind the
nails on test tube A and the surfaces of the nails were then observed. After the
observation, 2 M of HCl was added to test tube A and it was shaken until the brown
substances formed on the surfaces of the nails were dissolved. The acid solution in test
tube A was then poured and mixed into test tube C. The same procedure was then
repeated for test tube B, but the solutions from test tube B were placed on a test tube
labeled D. The yellow intensities of test tubes C and D were then compared.
IV. Results and Discussion

Results

Table 1. Products of Rusting.

Observations

• Pink tints were seen on the nail

surfaces.
• Blue-green colors were seen in
Bent
the bent portion of the nail.
• The nail began to corrode as
well.

• Pink colors were found on the

nail's surface.
• At both ends of the nail, blue-
Straight green colors were also noticed.
• The nail began to corrode as
well.
Table 2. The effect of rust on rusting.

Observations

On the surfaces of the nail,

Polished iron nail
bubbles formed.

Bubbles formed on the

surface of the nail.
However, the bubbles
Rusty Iron nail
formed here were a lot
more than those of the
polished nail.
Table 3. Effect of sodium chloride on rusting in Test tube A and B.

Initial Final
Test
Temperature Temperature Observations
tube
(°𝐶) (°𝐶)

There were bubbles and

some brown substances
developed.
A 31 33.5

The nails began to rust

as well.

Bubbles and a brown

substance were created,
however the bubbles and
brown substance were
B 31 34 more apparent in test
tube B.

The nails began to

corrode as well.
Table 4. Effect of sodium chloride on rusting in Test tube C and D.

Test tube Observations

C The solution's color changed to a faint yellow color.

D The solution changed to a deeper yellow color.

Follow up Questions:

1. The appearance of a pink color indicates the presence of HO- ions. In what part
of the nails in this produced? How is this produced?

The pink tint was seen on the surfaces of both nails. The HO- ions were formed
as a result of the reduction of accessible oxygen in the surrounding environment.

2. The appearance of a blue-green color indicates the presence of Fe2+. In what

part of the nail was this produced?

The blue green tint was seen along the ends and bent area of the nails.
Moreover, the oxidation of iron generated the Fe 2+ ions.
3. What is formed when iron or any metal corrodes?

Rust is generated when any metal corrodes and is apparent due to its
recognizable brownish red color.

4. What is the effect of rust on further rusting?

The presence of initial rust accelerates corrosion and promotes corrosion on

rust-free steel metal. Furthermore, Singhania and Sanyal (1973) claimed that the
severity of corrosion caused by different electrolytes differs from that caused by rust
caused by the same electrolytes. Rusting is also accelerated by rust mixed with FeSO4
or FeCl3. Furthermore, while the duration of the pre-rusting phase impacts the future
rate of rusting, the age of the rust, not its thickness, determines its protective effect.

Discussion

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the nature of the chemical
process involved in rusting and to assess the effect of rust on subsequent rusting as well
as the effect of sodium chloride on rusting. According to the results in table 1, a pink tint
was apparent on the surface of the nail, while a blue-green tint was visible on the ends
and in the bent area of the nail. The pink tint observed indicates the presence of HO- ions,
while the presence of Fe2+ ions is indicated by the blue-green color. This concept was
supported by Flinn Scientific Inc. (2016), who said that the phenolphthalein added to the
solution will turn brilliant pink due to reaction with OH- ions and will turn into a bluish green
color due to the presence of Fe2+ ions. The results also on table 2 show that the rusty nail
produce more bubbles than those of polished nail. Moreover, we can observe in table 3
that the greater the amount of sodium chloride the more visible is the effect to the nails .
This is because the corrosion rate increases with increasing volumes of sodium chloride
(Ibrahim ,2013).
V. Summary ,Conclusion and Recommendation

In order to determine the products of rusting, this experiment requires the

application of what has been taught about corrosion and rusting. Furthermore, the
purpose of this experiment is to understand the nature of the chemical mechanism
involved in rusting, as well as to evaluate the effect of rust on subsequent rusting and the
effect of sodium chloride on rusting. This was achieved by examining the surfaces of nails
that have been subjected to a variety of solutions . Furthermore, the researcher was able
to know that corrosion happens due to the oxidation-reduction reaction processes. Also,
the researcher was able to conclude that larger volumes of solutions affect corrosion
greatly more than those of lower volumes, causing an increase in reaction rate. To further
improve the experiment, the researchers must use a higher concentration of hydrogen
peroxide for a more visible result. It is also recommended to review the concept of
oxidation and reduction before carrying out the experiment.

VI. References

Botana, F.G. (2015). Corrosion - Chemistry Encyclopedia - structure, reaction, water,

uses, elements, metal. Chemistryexplained.com.
http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Co-Di/Corrosion.html

Flinn Scientific Inc.(2016). Corrosion of Iron.

https://www.flinnsci.ca/api/library/Download/b7928474ad6a4a6f9cf4e750680f5e6
6

Ibrahim, M. F. B. (2013). Effect Of Different Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Concentration On

Corrosion Of Coated Steel. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159183364.pdf

Singhania, G. K. & Sanyal, B. (1973). Behaviour of Rust and Rusted Steel Surfaces,
British Corrosion Journal, 8:5, 224-229, DOI: 10.1179/000705973798321883
VII. Appendices

Documentation

Figure 1. Soaking of Tissue on a

Figure 2. Adding of Nails to the
Prepared Mixture.
Prepared Tissue paper.

Figure 3. Prepared Set -Up for Figure 4. Adding of Nails on a Test

Product of Rusting. Tube.

Figure 5. Measuring of
Temperature.