Wednesday, March 10, 2010

hypothesis

i figured out that rusting occurs due to contact with oxygen and water. so when iron reacts with oxygen of the air along with the presence of moisture which in turn forms a substance known as iron oxide.it is usually a red/brown colour. it is a slow chemical reaction which takes place over a period of time. and as im doing this experiemnt with other solutions , i predict that the nails in the vinegar and salt will rust faster than the others. this is because 'salt water accelerates rusting because it is an electrolyte solution and its ions are able to move freely between the sites of the oxidation and reduction half reactions.' so i guess that means there is an increased concentration of ions so its a better conductor.

With the distilled/boiled water, i think it will corrode slower as their is less oxygen present and for rust to occur there needs to be a reaction between oxygen and the iron, with the water.
oh and the reason i may be doing this experiment with the nails being fully submerged and also the nails being partially submerged is because i was wondering if rust occurs more above surface of the solution or in the solution.

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