CHEMISTRY PROJECT

RUSTING OF IRON
KAVIN KRISHNA K.P
XII-A
 AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my gratitude and sincere
thanks to my principal Dr.Vasanthi Thiagaragan
for the moral support extended during the tenure
of the project.
I would also thank my chemistry teacher
Mrs.G.Vanmathi and my parents for the support
and suggestions given to complete this project.
 CONTENTS
Objective
Introduction
Aim
Materials Required
Procedure
Observations
Result
Precautions
Bibliography
 OBJECTIVE
Rust is an iron oxide, usually red oxide formed by
redox reaction of iron and oxygen in presence of
moisture.
I wonder how this action practically happens. So
I chose to do this experiment and figure out what
reaction is carried on by air and moisture under
certain conditions.
 INTRODUCTION
When iron is exposed to moisture containing
CO2 , a brown layer of iron oxide known as rust is
found. This process is called rusting of iron.
First the iron is oxidised to brown ferric oxide by
oxygen and then water hydrates it to ferric
hydroxide (Fe2O3.xH2O).
Iron + Oxygen Iron oxide water Hydrated rust
(from air) (brown solid) (from atmosphere)

This shows oxygen and water are essential for

rusting of iron.
The presence of CO2 and SO2 in atmosphere and
electrolytes accelerate rusting process. Once
rusting starts, rust formed itself acts as auto
catalyst and continues the process. Rusting is a
slow electrochemical process in which iron acts as
the anode. It releases two electrons to become
ferrous which reacts with hydroxyl ions to form
ferrous hydroxides which loses water molecules
to give hydrated ferric oxide.
Anode: Fe Fe ²+ + 2ē
Iron Ferrous ion

Cathode: O2 + 2H2O + 4ē 4OHˉ

Oxygen Water Hydroxyl ion
+
Rusting: 4Fe +² + O2 + (4 +2x) H2O 2Fe2O3.xH2O + 8H
Rust
AIM:
To study the effect of rusting of iron in presence of air,
water, acid and alkali.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
 5 Boiling tubes
 Corks
 Conical flask
 Iron nail
 Cotton wool
 dil. HCl or H2SO4
 dil. NaOH
 Anhydrous CaCl2
 CCl4 solvent
 Vaseline and distilled water
PROCEDURE:

Drop the iron nail carefully into a conical flask

containing CCl4. Cork the flask. Keep them for 10 min
with occasional shaking. Decant the CCl4 and add
fresh CCl4. Repeat the process till the organic solvent
is free from any impurities. Take out the nails and dry
them in an oven at 100ºC. Label five clean and dry test
tubes from 1 to 5.
 In tube 1, put some pieces of anhydrous CaCl2
followed by a small plug of cotton wool. Place four
cleaned nails over the cotton wool. Cork the tube.
 In tube 2, take a few mL of tap water and place 4
cleaned nails in such a way that half of their lengths
dip in water. Cork the tube.
• In tube 3, take 4 dry and cleaned nails and add to
it about 10 mL of boiled distilled water (after CO2
removal). Then, add 4 mL of molten Vaseline
immediately so that it forms a layer over the hot
water. This is to make sure the nails don’t come in
contact with air (as Vaseline solidifies once the
water cools and gives an air proof layer) and cork
it.
• In tube 4, take four nails (cleaned and dried). Add
hot dil. NaOH solution to it (free from CO2). Then,
add molten Vaseline as in test tube 3.
• In tube 5, take 4 clean and dry nails. Add dil. HCl
to it so that the nails are covered. Leave the five
tubes undisturbed for a few days and note in
which of the tubes nails get rusted.
DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION
OBSERVATIONS:
TUBE NUMBER NAILS IN RUSTING
CONTACT WITH OCCURRED OR
NOT
1. Dry air (no moisture) No rusting

2. Air, moisture, electrolytes Rusting is observed

in tap water
3. Moisture (no air) No rusting

4. Dil. NaOH (no air) No rusting

5. Dil. HCl, air, moisture Rusting is observed

RESULT : It is seen that rusting has taken place in
presence of air and moisture.
+ It s catalysed by
impurities and H but inhibited by OHˉ ions.

PRECAUTIONS:
The iron nail should be thoroughly cleaned.
Air proof Vaseline layer is taken to prevent the
dissolution of oxygen from the air into the solution in
which nails under observation are placed.
The nails should be fully covered with distilled water,
dil. NaOH and dil. HCl solutions (all free from
dissolved CO2 and O2).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wikipedia
Encyclopedia
Chemistry book
Other reference books