Rate of Rusting Iron
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Does the temperature affect the rate of rusting of iron?
As we all know rust is composed of iron oxide. The term is applied to red oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture. Given sufficient time, oxygen, and water, any iron mass will eventually convert entirely to rust and disintegrate. So my topic is to figure out does the temperature affect the rate of rusting.
When impure iron is contact with water, oxygen, or other strong oxidants, or acids, it rust . Those are conditions of rusting. In the other hand iron metal is relatively unaffected by pure water or by dry oxygen. If salt is present , for example in seawater or salt spray, the iron tends to rust more quickly, as the result of electrochemical reactions. The conversion of the passivating iron oxide layer to rust result from the combined action of two agents, water and oxygen..
The rusting of iron is an electrochemical process that begins with the transfer of electrons from iron to oxygen. The rate of corrosion is affected by water and accelerated by electrolytes which formed by water and salt. The key reaction is the reduction of oxygen:
O2 + 4 e− + 2 H2O → 4 OH-
Because it forms hydroxide ions, this process is strongly affected by the presence of acid. Indeed, the corrosion of most metals by oxygen is accelerated at low PH. Providing the electrons for the above reaction is the oxidation of iron that may be described as follows:
Fe → Fe2+ + 2 e−
These give me ideas that the higher temperature will make the molecules move faster and increase the kinetic energy in the atoms so that affect the rate of rusting.
After these researches I think I need 2 same glass airtight containers, 2 iron bars with same shape and weight, some vinegar to replace acid. I decide to put the iron bars in each containers and add the same volume of vinegar and seal up the container.
I will wrap up one of the container with aluminium foil and place it outside of the house so that it can heat up by sun , Then I will put the other one in the fridge .I will leave them their for a while and check everyday. I open the lid of the container everyday to keep enough air for reaction, There are water, acid and salt in vinegar so it accord with every condition of rusting and I use control variable system to make everything is the