Series:Rusting

Iron, even in the form of steel, is prone to rust. This is a slow reaction that takes place when the iron is in contact with both water and oxygen. It is quite easy to show that water and oxygen are both needed for rusting by setting up a simple controlled experiment. Things you need …
Continue reading Rusty Hinge…

Steel is an alloy of iron containing other elements to improve its physical properties. Mild steel is iron with about 0.25% carbon added; stainless steel is iron with chromium and nickel added to reduce rusting. Iron will rust whenever it comes into contact with both water and oxygen. If you can stop one of those …
Continue reading Sacrificial Protection…

I do love a snappy post title! Air contains lots of moisture. It can be as much as 30 g of water in every 1 m3 of air. If you dry the air (by passing it over a chemical that reacts with water) then the mixture remaining is slightly more than 20% oxygen. You can …
Continue reading Oxygen Is (Roughly) 20% Of Dry Air…

This is another post in the Rusting Series. Please make sure that you have read the others if you are here revising for upcoming exams – otherwise just relax and absorb. Many metals corrode over time; they become weaker as they react with their environment and often eventually break, crumble or otherwise fail. Iron (steel) …
Continue reading Galvanised Into Action…