CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Master Siddarth Gupta of

class XII N of Modern Public School, Bhiwadi
having the CBSE Roll no. .. has
satisfactorily completed an investigatory project
on To study
the effect of metal coupling on rusting of
iron during the academic year 2014-2015.

Teachers Signature

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank my chemistry teacher Mrs.
Manisha for her continuous support. I would also
like to thank Mr.
(Lab Assistant) who
guided me , my friends and family who helped me
when I was stuck and finally the almighty who
made everything possible.

INDEX
1.
INTRODUCTION
. 4
2

What is rust?
Oxidation of iron metal
Associated Reactions
Prevention

2.
EXPERIMENT
. 6
Aim
Requirements
Procedure
Observations
Conclusion

3.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
8

INTRODUCTION
What is Rust?
Rust is composed of iron oxides. In colloquial usage, the term is applied to red
oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air
3

moisture. Rust consists of hydrated iron(III) oxides Fe2O3nH2O and iron(III) oxidehydroxide FeO(OH)Fe(OH)3.
Given sufficient time, oxygen, and water, any iron mass eventually convert entirely to
rust and disintegrate.
Oxidation of Iron Metal
When impure (cast) iron is in contact with water, oxygen, or other strong oxidants, or
acids, it rusts.
If salt is present, for example in seawater or salt spray, the iron tends to rust more
quickly, as a result of electrochemical reactions. Iron metal is relatively unaffected by
pure water or by dry oxygen.
The conversion of the passivating ferrous oxide layer to rust results from the
combined action of two agents, usually oxygen and water.As rust forms and flake off
from the surface, fresh iron is exposed, and the corrosion process continues until
either all of the iron is consumed or all of the oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, or
sulphur dioxide in the system are removed or consumed.

Associated Reactions
The rusting of iron is an electrochemical process that begins with the transfer of
electrons from iron to oxygen. The iron is the reducing agent (gives up electrons)
while the oxygen is the oxidising agent (gains electrons). The rate of corrosion is
affected by water and accelerated by electrolytes, as illustrated by the effects of road
salt on the corrosion of automobiles. The key reaction is the reduction of oxygen:
O2 + 4e + 2H2O 4OH
Providing the electrons for the above reaction is the oxidation of iron that may be
described as follows:
Fe Fe2+ + 2e
The following redox reaction also occurs in the presence of water and is crucial to the
formation of rust:
4Fe2+ + O2 4Fe3+ + 2O2
From the above equations, it is also seen that the corrosion products are dictated by
the availability of water and oxygen.
4

Prevention
Because of the widespread use and importance of iron and steel products, the
prevention or slowing of rust is the basis of major economic activities in a number of
specialized technologies.
Rust is permeable to air and water, therefore the interior metallic iron beneath a rust
layer continues to corrode. Rust prevention thus requires coatings that preclude rust
formation.
Methods to prevent rusting are:
A) Rust-Resistant Alloys
B) Galvanization
C) Coatings and Painting
D)

EXPERIMENT
AIM
To study the effect of metal coupling on rusting of iron.

REQUIREMENTS
1. Beakers
2. Conical flasks
3. Filteration flasks
4. Vaccum pump
5. Bent tube
6. Glass rod
5

7. 50% ammonia solution

8. Dilute NaOH solution
9. Dilute H2SO4
10. Filter paper

PROCEDURE
1) At first we have to clean the surface of iron nails with the help of sand paper.
2) After that we have to wind zinc strip around one nail, a clean copper wire around
the second & clean magnesium strip around the third nail. Then to put all these three
and a fourth nail in Petri dishes so that they are not in contact with each other.
3) Then fill the Petri dishes with hot agar agar solution in such a way that only lower
half of the nails are covered with the liquids. Cover Petri dishes for one day or so.
4) The liquids set to a gel on cooling. Two types of patches are observed around the
rusted nail, one is blue and the other pink. Blue patch is due to the formation of
potassium ferro-ferri cyanide where pink patch is due to the formation of hydroxyl
ions which turns colourless phenolphthalein to pink.

OBSERVATIONS
Serial No.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Metal Pair
Iron-Zinc
Iron-Magnesium
Iron-Copper
Iron-Nail

Colour of patch

Nail rusts or not

Dont Rust
Dont Rust
Rusts
Rusts

Conclusion :
It is clear from the observation that coupling of iron with more electropositive metals
such as zinc and magnesium resists corrosion and rusting of iron. Coupling of iron
with less electropositive metals such as copper increases rusting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following books and websites proved helpful in making this project:

Books:
Practical chemistry class 12
Chemistry Projects class 12

Websites:
www.wikipedia .com
www.encyclopedia .com