RUST ON A NAIL

A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

PRESENTED TO:
WEST CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY, 2015

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I Abstract Page 3

II Statement of the Problem Page 4

III Review of Literature Page 5-6

IV Hypothesis Page 7

V Variables Page 8

VI Data Sheet Page 9-13

VII Procedure of Investigation Page 14-15

VIII Results Page 16

IX Chart Page 17-18

X Graph Page 19

XI Conclusion Page 20

XII Future Study Page 21

XIII Bibliography Page 22

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 I ABSTRACT
The problem is, “What type of liquid will cause a nail to rust the fastest and produce
the most amount of rust? A nail immersed in water, coke, orange juice or vinegar?”

It is hypothesized that different kinds of liquids will cause differing amounts of rust on
nails. Out of the following liquids: water, coke, orange juice or vinegar, I believe that a
nail immersed in orange juice will rust the fastest and produce the most amount of
rust because orange juice is acidic.

A brief procedure of the experiment is as follows.

- Inserted test tubes into test tube holders.
- Labeled each test tube #1 through #12.
- Used a syringe to pour liquid into the test tubes.
Test Sample:
- Poured 8 ml of water into test tube #1.
- Poured 8 ml of orange juice into test tube #2.
- Poured 8 ml of vinegar into test tube #3.
- Poured 8 ml of coke into test tube #4.
The test sample was conducted 3 times.

Notes Included:
- Used ruler to measure length of rust on each of the 12 nails.
- Used scale to determine the weight of each of the 12 nails.
- Used sight to determine the visible changes of each of the 12 nails.
- Reviewed results over a period of 14 days.

The results showed that a nail immersed in vinegar produced the most rust at the
fastest rate.

Therefore, the hypothesis was not supported.

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 II STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
The problem is, “What type of liquid will cause a nail to rust the fastest and
produce the most amount of rust? A nail immersed in water, coke, orange juice
or vinegar?”

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 III REVIEW OF
LITERATURE
Have you ever stepped on a rusty nail and had to go into the doctor for a
tetanus shot? I am sure you have wondered how rust is created. Rust is the name of
a corrosion product that can be found on metal or iron. Rust is caused by the
reactions of water, or better the oxygen dissolved in water, with iron. Corrosion also
occurs when a metal is in contact with an electrolyte, a fluid that carries electricity; so
every liquid that is a good electrolyte can be corrosive towards iron.

There are 3 components that need to be present in order to cause rust when a
nail is immersed in a liquid. The first component necessary for corrosion to occur is a
metal. An example of a metal is iron, or in this experiment a nail. The second
component necessary for corrosion to occur is oxygen that comes from the
atmosphere. The third component is an electrolyte, which is usually defined as water.

Nails are made of steel and contain iron. This is the first item needed for
corrosion or rust to take place. Bright common nails usually have no finish. They can
cause rust streaks if they are used in siding or decking or construction. The iron of the
nail starts to rust when it is exposed to air and water.

Oxygen is the second component that attributes to rust. Corrosion is the

atmospheric oxidation of metals. That means that oxygen combines with the metal
and forms a new layer. This layer can be good or bad. Oxidation is the loss of electrons
during a reaction by a molecule, atom or ion. Oxidation occurs when the oxidation
state of a molecule, atom or ion is increased. An example is when the nail combines
with oxygen to form iron oxide or rust. The iron is said to have oxidized into rust.

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 III REVIEW OF
LITERATURE
An electrolyte is the third component to rust. The chemical compounds found
in liquids like acid rain, seawater and the salt-loaded spray from snow-belt roads
make them better electrolytes than pure water, allowing their presence to speed the
process of rusting on iron and other forms of corrosion on other metals. When water
droplets are gathered on an iron object, two things immediately happen. First, the
water combines with carbon dioxide forms a weak carbonic acid, becoming better
electrolyte. As the acid is formed and the iron dissolved, some of the water will begin
to break down into its component pieces -- hydrogen and oxygen. The free oxygen and
dissolved iron bond into iron oxide, in the process freeing electrons. When this occurs,
rust starts to form.

The next time you see a rusty nail laying on the ground or accidently step on
one, you will know that three things have to have aligned in order to cause the rust.
The three component of rust are a metal, oxygen in the air, and a liquid to serve as an
electrolyte.

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 IV HYPOTHESIS
Different kinds of liquids will cause differing amounts of rust on nails. Out of
the following liquids: water, coke, orange juice or vinegar, I believe that a nail
immersed in orange juice will produce the most amount of rust at the fastest
rate because orange juice is acidic.

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 V VARIABLES
The independent variable, which will be changed and tested, is the different
liquid that the nail is immersed in. The liquids include: water, code, orange juice
and vinegar.

The dependent variable will measure the amount of change by recording the
look, feel and weight in grams of the rust that accumulates on each nail over a
period of days.

The constant variables are the same for all tests: the amount of each liquid, the
container that liquid is stored in, the nail size and product.

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 VI DATA SHEET
DAY 2: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 6 6 6 6
Test #2 6 6 6 6
Test #3 6 6 6 6

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.0
Test #2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.0
Test #3 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.0

VISIBLE CHANGES
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Very light color orange is Gray rust is forming at
Test #1 No notable change No notable change
forming at top of nail top of nail
Very light color orange is Gray rust is forming at
Test #2 No notable change No notable change
forming at top of nail top of nail
Very light color orange is Gray rust is forming at
Test #3 No notable change No notable change
forming at top of nail top of nail

DAY 4: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 6 6 6 6
Test #2 6 6 6 6
Test #3 6 6 6 6

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 0.5 0.5 1.6 1.0
Test #2 0.5 0.5 1.6 1.0
Test #3 0.5 0.6 2.0 1.3

VISIBLE CHANGES
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Gray color is turning
Very light color orange is Orange color is turning Very light gray color is
Test #1 more dark and getting
forming at top of nail more gray at top of nail forming at top of nail
thicker
Gray color is turning
Very light color orange is Orange color is turning Very light gray color is
Test #2 more dark and getting
forming at top of nail more gray at top of nail forming at top of nail
thicker
Gray color is turning
Very light color orange is Orange color is turning Very light gray color is
Test #3 more dark and getting
forming at top of nail more gray at top of nail forming at top of nail
thicker

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 VI DATA SHEET
DAY 6: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 6 6 6 6
Test #2 6 6 6 6
Test #3 6 6 6 6

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 1.5 0.7 6.5 3.5
Test #2 0.6 0.9 4.0 2.0
Test #3 1.5 0.7 6.5 2.5

Water
Orange coloring is
turning more dark at top
Test #1
of nail - Starting to trail
down the nail
Orange coloring is
turning more dark at top
Test #2
of nail - Starting to trail
down the nail
Orange coloring is
turning more dark at top
Test #3
of nail - Starting to trail
down the nail
VISIBLE CHANGES
Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Black discoloring - Rust is Gray discoloring - Almost
Gray color is turning
building in thickness at consuming over half the
darker at top of nail
top of nail nail
Black discoloring - Rust is Gray discoloring - Almost
Gray color is turning
building in thickness at consuming over half the
darker at top of nail
top of nail nail
Black discoloring - Rust is Gray discoloring - Almost
Gray color is turning
building in thickness at consuming over half the
darker at top of nail
top of nail nail

DAY 8: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 7 7 7 7
Test #2 6 7 7 6
Test #3 6 7 6 7

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 2.0 1.0 7.0 3.5
Test #2 2.0 1.0 6.0 3.0
Test #3 2.0 1.0 6.5 3.0

Water
Orange coloring is
turning more dark at top
Test #1
of nail - Trailing further
down nail
Orange coloring is
turning more dark at top
Test #2
of nail - Trailing further
down nail
Orange coloring is
turning more dark at top
Test #3
of nail - Trailing further
down nail
VISIBLE CHANGES
Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Gray discoloring is Black discoloring - Rust is
Gray discoloring -
turning more black thicker than prior test -
Consuming whole nail
versus prior test Still at top of nail
Gray discoloring is Black discoloring - Rust is
Gray discoloring - Almost
turning more black thicker than prior test -
consuming 3/4 of nail
versus prior test Still at top of nail
Gray discoloring is Black discoloring - Rust is
Gray discoloring -
turning more black thicker than prior test -
Consuming whole nail
versus prior test Still at top of nail

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 VI DATA SHEET
DAY 10: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 7 7 7 7
Test #2 6 7 7 6
Test #3 6 7 6 7

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 2.5 1.5 7.0 3.5
Test #2 3.0 1.5 6.0 5.0
Test #3 3.5 1.5 6.5 3.5

VISIBLE CHANGES
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Orange coloring is Super dark black
Gray coloring is getter Gray discoloring - No real
turning more dark at top discoloring - Rust is
Test #1 more dark - Still mostly build up - Consuming
of nail - Trailing further thicker and moving
at top of nail whole nail
down nail downward on the nail

Orange coloring is Super dark black

Gray coloring is getter Gray discoloring - No real
turning more dark at top discoloring - Rust is
Test #2 more dark - Still mostly build up - Consuming
of nail - Trailing further thicker and moving
at top of nail 90% of nail
down nail downward on the nail

Orange coloring is Super dark black

Gray coloring is getter Gray discoloring - No real
turning more dark at top discoloring - Rust is
Test #3 more dark - Still mostly build up - Consuming
of nail - Trailing further thicker and moving
at top of nail 95% of nail
down nail downward on the nail

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 VI DATA SHEET
DAY 12: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 7 7 7 7
Test #2 7 7 7 6
Test #3 6 7 7 7

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 4.0 3.1 7.0 7.0
Test #2 4.3 3.2 7.0 7.0
Test #3 3.9 3.1 7.0 6.5

VISIBLE CHANGES
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke

Super dark black

discoloring - Really thick
Dark Orange coloring - Gray discoloring - No real
Black coloring - Not quite at the point where nail
Test #1 Consuming over half of build up - Consuming
halfway down nail enters vinegar - Dark
nail - No build up whole nail
color with less build up
continues down nail

Super dark black

discoloring - Really thick
Dark Orange coloring - Gray discoloring - No real
Black coloring - Not quite at the point where nail
Test #2 Consuming over half of build up - Consuming
halfway down nail enters vinegar - Dark
nail - No build up 95% of nail
color with less build up
continues down nail

Super dark black

discoloring - Really thick
Dark Orange coloring - Gray discoloring - No real
Black coloring - Not quite at the point where nail
Test #3 Consuming over half of build up - Consuming
halfway down nail enters vinegar - Dark
nail - No build up 95% of nail
color with less build up
continues down nail

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 VI DATA SHEET
DAY 14: WEIGHT OF NAIL - Grams
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 7 7 7 7
Test #2 7 7 7 7
Test #3 7 7 7 7

LENGTH OF RUST - Centimeters

Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke
Test #1 4.2 5.0 7.0 7.0
Test #2 4.4 5.0 7.0 7.0
Test #3 4.0 5.0 7.0 7.0

VISIBLE CHANGES
Water Orange Juice Vinegar Coke

Super dark black

discoloring - Really thick
Dark Orange coloring - Black coloring - Trails Gray/Orange discoloring -
at the point where nail
Test #1 Consuming over half of over half way down the No real build up -
enters vinegar - Dark
nail - No build up nail - No build up Consuming whole nail
color with less build up
trails down entire nail

Super dark black

discoloring - Really thick
Dark Orange coloring - Black coloring - Trails Gray/Orange discoloring -
at the point where nail
Test #2 Consuming over half of over half way down the No real build up -
enters vinegar - Dark
nail - No build up nail - No build up Consuming whole nail
color with less build up
trails down entire nail

Super dark black

discoloring - Really thick
Dark Orange coloring - Black coloring - Trails Gray/Orange discoloring -
at the point where nail
Test #3 Consuming over half of over half way down the No real build up -
enters vinegar - Dark
nail - No build up nail - No build up Consuming whole nail
color with less build up
trails down entire nail

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 VII PROCEDURE OF
INVESTIGATION
Materials Used
- 12 Test Tubes
- 12 Test Tube holders
- 12 Non-galvanized nails – Common Nail 10D – 7 cm length
- The following liquids:
o Water
o Orange Juice
o Vinegar
o Coke
- 1 Syringe
- 1 Scale – The starting weight of each nail was 6 grams
- 1 Ruler
- 1 notebook for results

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 VII PROCEDURE OF
INVESTIGATION
Procedure
- Inserted test tubes into test tube holders.
- Labeled each test tube #1 through #12.
- Used a syringe to pour liquid into the test tubes.
Test Sample #1:
- Poured 8 ml of water into test tube #1.
- Poured 8 ml of orange juice into test tube #2.
- Poured 8 ml of vinegar into test tube #3.
- Poured 8 ml of coke into test tube #4.
Test Sample #2:
- Poured 8 ml of water into test tube #5.
- Poured 8 ml of orange juice into test tube #6.
- Poured 8 ml of vinegar into test tube #7.
- Poured 8 ml of coke into test tube #8.
Test Sample #3:
- Poured 8 ml of water into test tube #9.
- Poured 8 ml of orange juice into test tube #10.
- Poured 8 ml of vinegar into test tube #11.
- Poured 8 ml of coke into test tube #12.
Notes Included:
- Used ruler to measure length of rust on each of the 12 nails.
- Used scale to determine the weight of each of the 12 nails.
- Used sight to determine the visible changes of each of the 12 nails.
- Reviewed results over a period of 14 days.

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 VIII RESULTS
Results

A nail submersed in vinegar over a period of 14 days produced the most amount of
rust at the fastest rate versus a nail submersed in water, orange juice or coke. The
rust formed on the nail in vinegar was extremely black in color and very thick
around the top of the nail and trailing down further on the nail.

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 IX CHART
Weight of Nail - Grams

Test #1 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Orange Juice 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Vinegar 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Coke 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00

Test #2 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00
Orange Juice 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Vinegar 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Coke 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00

Test #3 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00
Orange Juice 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Vinegar 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00
Coke 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00

Average Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.33 6.33 6.67 7.00
Orange Juice 6.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Vinegar 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.67 6.67 7.00 7.00
Coke 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.67 6.67 6.67 7.00

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 IX CHART
Length of Rust - Centimeters

Test #1 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water - 0.50 1.50 2.00 2.50 4.00 4.20
Orange Juice 0.20 0.50 0.70 1.00 1.50 3.10 5.00
Vinegar - 1.00 6.50 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
Coke 0.50 1.60 3.50 3.50 3.50 7.00 7.00

Test #2 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water - 0.50 0.60 2.00 3.00 4.30 4.40
Orange Juice 0.20 0.50 0.90 1.00 1.50 3.20 5.00
Vinegar - 1.00 4.00 6.00 6.00 7.00 7.00
Coke 0.40 1.60 2.00 3.00 5.00 7.00 7.00

Test #3 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water - 0.50 1.50 2.00 3.50 3.90 4.00
Orange Juice 0.10 0.60 0.70 1.00 1.50 7.00 5.00
Vinegar - 1.30 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.50 7.00
Coke 0.40 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 7.00 7.00

Average Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

Water - 0.50 1.20 2.00 3.00 4.07 4.20
Orange Juice 0.17 0.53 0.77 1.00 1.50 3.10 5.00
Vinegar - 1.10 5.67 6.50 6.50 6.83 7.00
Coke 0.43 1.73 2.67 3.17 4.00 7.00 7.00

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 X GRAPH
WEIGHT OF NAIL
Grams
7.20
7.00
6.80
Water
6.60
Orange Juice
6.40
Vinegar
6.20 Coke
6.00
5.80
5.60
5.40
Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

LENGTH OF RUST
Centimeters
8.00

7.00

6.00
Water
5.00 Orange Juice

4.00 Vinegar
Coke
3.00

2.00

1.00

-
Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8 Day 10 Day 12 Day 14

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 XI CONCLUSION
The hypothesis was that different kinds of liquids will cause differing amounts
of rust on nails. Out of the following liquids: water, coke, orange juice or
vinegar, I believe that a nail immersed in orange juice will produce the most
amount of rust at the fastest rate because orange juice is acidic.

The results showed that a nail submersed in vinegar over a period of 14 days
produced the most amount of rust at the fastest rate versus a nail submersed in
water, orange juice or coke. The rust formed on the nail in vinegar was extremely
black in color and very thick around the top of the nail and trailing down further on
the nail.

Therefore, the hypothesis was not supported.

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 XII FUTURE STUDY
The experimenter would like to find out if a different type of nail was immersed
in vinegar, would each nail produce rust at a different rate or the same rate?
The amount of liquid or vinegar would remain the same for each test. The
container that the vinegar is stored in would remain the same for all tests. The
dependent variable or measure of the test would also be the same by
measuring the weight of nail, length of rust and visible changes. The only
independent variable that would change is the type and size of nail.

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 XIII BIBLIOGRPAHY
http://www.corrosionist.com/what_causes_rust.htm

http://www.chemicalformula.org/rust

http://www.csun.edu/~ml727939/coursework/695/rusting%20rates%20of%20iron%20nails/rusting%20
rates%20of%20iron%20nails.htm

http://editions.sciencetechnologyaction.com/lessons2-27260.php

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalreactions/a/Difference-Between-Oxidation-Reduction.htm

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryglossary/g/Oxidation-Definition.htm

http://www.rustblock.com/rust-process-defined.html

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm#intro

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