Chemistry Investigatory Project

ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL PATIALA
SESSION: 2023-24
CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
ON
RUSTING OF IRON
UNDER GUIDANCE: - SUBMITTED BY: -
Mr. Rajeev Kumar Vasudev Sharan
Pateriya
CLASS: -12th ‘G’

INDEX
1. Certificate
2. Acknowledgement
3. Objective
4. Introduction
5. Theory
6. Materials & Equipment’s
7. Procedure
8. Observations
9. Methods of Prevention
10. Conclusions
11. Bibliography
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project titled “Study of effect of
metal coupling on rusting of Iron” was completed under my
guidance and supervision by Vasudev Sharan Pateriya, a
student of 12th ‘A’ (PCM),ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL within the
stipulated timeas prescribed by CBSE.
External Examiner Mrs. Aradhana Sharma
Chemistry Teacher
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I gratefully acknowledge my sincere thanks to our
chemistry teacher Mr. Rajeev Kumar for her
valuable guidance and supervision throughout the
project work.
I also express my thanks to my parents for their
valuable support and for all sort of assistance for
completing the project.
Vasudev Sharan Pateriya

CLASS:-12th ‘A’
OBJECTIVE
The goal of the project is to investigate
effect of metal coupling on the rusting of
iron. Metal coupling affects the rusting of
iron. We will have to study the change in
rate of rusting when an iron nail is
coupled with metals more electropositive
than iron and with metals which are less
electropositive than iron.
INTRODUCTION
Metals and alloys undergo rusting and corrosion. The process by which some
metals when exposed to atmospheric conditions i.e., moist air, carbon dioxide,
etc. form undesirable compounds on surface and the process of formation of
these compounds is known as Corrosion. The compounds formed are usually
oxides.
Iron is one of the widely distributed elements in the nature. One of its striking
characteristics is that it undergoes rusting on combining with water, air and
carbon dioxide; due to which its surface gets covered with a red-brown flake
coating called Rust. Rusting is also a type of corrosion but the term is restricted
to iron or products made from it. Iron is easily prone to rusting making its
surface rough. Chemically, rust is a hydrated ferric oxide (Fe2O3.nH2O).Rusting
may be explained by an electrochemical mechanism. In the presence of moist
air containing dissolved oxygen or carbon dioxide, the commercial iron
behaves as if composed of small electrical cells. At anode of cell, iron passes
into the solution as ferrous ions.
Fe Fe2++2e-
The electrons from the above reaction move towards the cathode and form
hydroxyl ions.
H2O + (O) + 2e- 2OH-
Under the influence of dissolved oxygen, the ferrous ions and hydroxyl ions
interact from rust, i.e., hydrated ferric oxide.
2Fe2++ H2O + (O) 2Fe3+ + 2OH-
2Fe3+ + 6OH- Fe2O3.3H2O(rust) or 2Fe(OH)3
If supply of oxygen is limited, the corrosion product may be black anhydrous

magnetite, Fe3O4.
THEORY
When a piece of iron metal is exposed to humid atmosphere,
it gets covered with a red-brown substance called Rust.
Rusting of iron can be explained on the basis of
electrochemical theory as follows:
1. Water vapours on the surface of the metal dissolved
carbon dioxide and oxygen from the air. Thus, the surface of
metal is covered with the solution of carbon dioxide with
water, i.e., carbonic acid:-
H2O + CO2 H2CO3 (1)
This acts as an electrolytic solution of the cell. The carbonic
acid and water dissociate to a small extent as follows:
H2CO3 2H+ + CO32-
H2O H+ + OH- (2)
2. Iron in contact with the dissolved CO2 and O2 undergoes
oxidation as follows:-
Fe Fe2+ + 2e- (3)
As a result, iron is converted into ferrous( Fe2+) ion.
3. The electrons lost by iron are taken up by the H+ ions
present on the surface of metal which were produced by the
dissociation of H2CO3 and H2O. Thus, H+ ions are converted
into H-atoms.
H ++ e - H (4)
Thus, H-atoms either react with the dissolved oxygen from
water or oxygen from air.
4H + O2 2H2O (5)
The complete reaction may be written as:-
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- 2H2O (6)
The dissolved oxygen may take up electrons directly to form
OH- ions as follows:
O2 + 2H2O + 4e- 4OH- (7)
The overall reaction of the miniature cell will be:-
2Fe(s) + O2 (g) + 4H+(aq) 2Fe2+(aq) + 2H2O(l)
4. The ferrous ions formed react with the dissolved oxygen or
oxygen from air to form ferric oxide as follows:
4Fe2+ + O2 + 4H2O 2Fe2O3 + 8H+ (aq)
Ferric oxide then undergoes hydration to form RUST as
follows:
Fe2O3 + xH2O Fe2O3xH2O
Hydrated ferric oxide (RUST)
MATERIALS & EQUIPMENTS
APPARATUS:
i. Boiling tubes
ii. Rubber stopper
iii. Iron nails
iv. Burner
v. Test tube
vi. Test tube holder and stand
CHEMICALS:
i. Distilled water
ii. Dilute HCl
iii. Dilute NaCl solution
iv. Anhydrous Calcium Chloride
v. Cotton
vi. Mustard Oil
PROCEDURE
1) Take five dry test tubes and mark them as A, B, C,
D, and E. Take 10 pieces of iron nails free from
rust.
2) Moist two iron nails with distilled water and slide
it in the test tube marked ‘A’. Close the mouth of
the test tube.
3) In the test tube ‘B’, take 5 ml of water and boil it
so as to remove distilled air. Slide two nails in this
test tube and few drops of mustard oil so as to
cover the surface of H2O.
4) In the test tube ‘C’, take 5 ml of dilute NaCl
solution. Slide two nails and close it.
5) In the test tube ‘D’, add two pieces of anhydrous
calcium chloride and cover it with thin layer of
cotton. Again slide three nails and close it.
6) Leave these test tubes as such for 4-5 days and
observe carefully in which of the tubes rust is
formed.
OBSERVATIONS
1. It is observed that rusting takes place
in the test tube A and C whereas not in B,
D, and E.
2. Moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide
present in air are responsible for rusting.
3. It appears that during experiment, a
compound of iron is formed by the
combination of iron, oxygen, carbon
dioxide and water.
4. It is observed that when the process
was prolonged in the presence of moist
air and acids, rusting spreads quickly.
METHODS OF PREVENTION
❖ Rusting of iron can be prevented by covering its
surface with paints, grease and lacquers.
❖ Galvanisation:-This is one of the widely practical
methods used for the prevention of rusting. The
layer of zinc on the surface of iron, when comes in
contact with moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide
in air, ferrous a protective invisible layer of basic
Zinc Carbonate ZnCO3.Zn(OH)2, due to which the
galvanised iron sheets lose their lustre and also
tends to protect it from further corrosion.
❖ Rusting of iron can also be prevented by coating its
surface with Iron(ll,III) oxide Fe3O4 or Iron (lll)
phosphate FePO4.
CONCLUSIONS
➢ Rust is formed by prolonged action of
water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide on an
iron under other suitable conditions.
➢ Moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide
present in air, all are responsible for
rusting.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
✓ www.Allprojectreports.com
✓ www.seminarsonly.com
✓ www.scribd.com
✓ www.wikipedia.com
✓ www.quora.com
✓ Comprehensive chemistry lab manual class 11th and class 12th

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ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL PATIALA

CLASS: -12th ‘G’

External Examiner Mrs. Aradhana Sharma

Vasudev Sharan Pateriya

H2O + (O) + 2e- 2OH-

2Fe2++ H2O + (O) 2Fe3+ + 2OH-

2Fe3+ + 6OH- Fe2O3.3H2O(rust) or 2Fe(OH)3

If supply of oxygen is limited, the corrosion product may be black anhydrous

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