When metals are exposed to the environment they can deteriorate and break down. scientist call this process corrosion. Rust is the term used to describe the corrosion of iron.
Aim: To investigate the factors that rust iron.
equipment: for test tubes test rack, a bung, 6 iron nails, nail polish, oil, salt, calcium chloride and aluminium foil.
method:
1. label the four test tubes with what's in them
2. the test tubes will have:
1. water
2. water + oil
3. nail polish covered nail
4. saltwater
5. calcium chloride + bung on the top of the test tube
6. aluminium wrapped nail
3. leave the test tubes unattended for at least three days.
Observations: the nails rusted during the last three days and we observed that they rusted at different rates the saltwater rusted faster than the water tube and the test tubes with water + oil didn't rust much and the nail with nail polish didn't rust because it had a protective covering, the aluminium foil wrapped one had the same effect and didn't rust and the calcium chloride and bung test tube dint rust much.
Conversation:
The water rusted the nail because of the oxygen dissolved in the water and the water with the salt it rusted faster because of the extra ions that the salt adds to the water. the water and oil didn't rust much because the oil on the top of the water stopped extra oxygen from dissolving into the water and the calcium chloride test tube that had the bung just kept the oxygen out stoping any rust from occurring, the aluminium wrapped and nail polished coated nail didn't rust because they formed a barrier from the nail and the water keeping them from coming in contact with the water.
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