2009年1月16日金曜日

Rusting Iron Nails



BEFORE



Q. WHAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN?

A. A CHEMICAL REACTION!



AFTER



A nail rusts because there is a chemical reaction !



When a nail, made of iron is left outside, the iron element of the nail reacts with oxygen in the air to form rust! The reactant is the iron and oxygen, and the product is rust! This rust is called iron oxide.

The reaction looks like this in an ionic iron oxide formation------ it follows the octet rule.





Rust ruins the nail and makes it look ugly. However, rust is not only a nuisance!

Iron oxides have been one of the most commonly used coloring agents for cosmetics and paintings for a long time. People have used iron oxides in natural minerals not only for cosmetics and paintings but also for religious ceremonies and skin protection. Manufacturing iron oxides as a coloring agent for cosmetics began around 1900, and manufacturing for paint, more than many centuries ago. Iron oxides have various colors which are classified into three major color groups: the yellow iron oxide (yellow), colcothar (red), black iron oxide (black). These iron oxides are fine powders with a slight unique odor.
However, many of the colors of iron oxide powder is a mixture of different compounds and elements. Reddish brown in the only color that forms in a pure iron oxide substance.
There are other ways you can make iron oxide, but the reaction introduced earlier is how iron oxide forms in a natural environment. You can further see how iron oxide can be made at home easily by going to the following URL: (However, keep in mind that it is very dangerous, and the people in these videos use some dirty language...!)
Next time you see rust, keep in mind that there is a chemical reaction that happened, and that rust (iron oxide) does not just make things look ugly, but mixtures of iron oxide makes people pretty too! :)


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