GREENLAND SR. SEC. PUBLIC SCHOOL, LDH AFFILIATED TO C.B.S.E.
CERTIFICATE
am
please
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ELECTROCHEMICAL THEORY OF RUSTING OF IRON is submitted by MONINDER SINGH, a student of XII Science for partial fulfillment of her practical work of chemistry.
This work is done by the candidate. I am please to approve it for submission. I wish her all success in future.
MRS. NARESH BALA (LEC. IN CHEMISTRY)
I highly acknowledge support and
Encouragement of Mrs. NARESH BALA, head chemistry department, Green Land Sr. Sec. Public School, who helped me in finding a suitable project for me. I greatly thank my parents for their understanding and financial help during the project. Above all I would like to thank Mrs. BALDEEP PANDHER, Principal, Green Land School whose guidance Ill always cherish.
MONINDER SINGH XII SCIENCE
1.Introduction. 2.Corrosion of Common Metals. 3.Iron Corrosion. 4.Factors Which Promote Corrosion. 5.Rusting Does Not Occur In The Absence Of Moisture.
6.
Prevention of Rusting.
7.Electrochemical Theory Of Rusting Of Iron.
Rust is a general term for a series of iron oxides, usually red oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water, moisture or air. Several forms of rust are distinguishable visually and by spectroscopy and form under different circumstances. Rust consists of hydrated iron (III) oxides Fe203. nH2O. rusting is the common term for corrosion of iron and its alloys such as steel. Other metals undergo equivalent corrosion but the resulting oxides are not commonly called rust. The process of slowly eating away of the metal due to attack of the atmospheric gases on the surface of metals forming oxides, carbonates and sulphates is called corrosion. (e.g.: tarnishing of Ag, development of a green coating on Cu and bronze etc.). Given sufficient time, oxygen and water, any iron mass eventually converts entirely to rust and disintegrates.
CORROSION OF COMMON METALS Coinage metals such as Copper and Silver slowly corrode through use. Silver coins or cutlery that are exposed to high sulphur foods such as eggs or the low level of sulphur species in the air develop a layer of black silver sulphide. Gold and platinum are extremely difficult to oxidise under normal conditions and require exposure to a powerful chemical oxidizing agent such as aqua regia. Some common metals oxidise extremely rapidly in air. Titanium and aluminium oxidise instantaneously in contact with the oxygen in air. These metals form an extremely thin layer of oxidised metal on the surface. This thin layer of oxide protects the underlying layers of the metal from the air preventing the entire metal from oxidizing. Iron, in contrast, has an oxide that forms in air and water, called rust that does not stop the further oxidation of the iron. Thus iron left exposed to air and water will continue to rust until all of the iron is oxidised.
IRON CORRESION For iron rust occur the metal has to be in contact with oxygen and water, although chemical reactions for this process are relatively complex and not all of them are completely understood, it is believed the causes are the following. ELECTRON TRANSFERRING (Reduction oxidation)
1. One area on the surface of the metal acts as the anode,
which is where the oxidation (corrosion) occurs. At the anode, the metal gives up electrons. Fe(s)Fe2+ (aq) + 2e2. Electrons are transferred from iron reducing oxygen in the atmosphere into water on the cathode, which is placed in another region of the metal. O2(g) + 4H+
(aq)
4e-
2H2O(l)
3. Global reaction for the process: 2Fe(s) + O2 (g) 4H+ (aq) 2Fe2+ (aq) + 2H2O(l)
4. Standard emf for iron rusting.
E0 = E0 cathode E0 anode E0 = 1.23 (-0.44) = 1.67 V
Iron corrosion takes place on acid medium; H
irons come
from reaction between carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and water, forming carbonic acid. Fe2+ ion oxides follow this equation: 4Fe2+ (aq) + O2 (g) + (4+2x) H2O (l) 2Fe2O3. xH2O + 8H+ (aq) Iron (III) oxide hydrated is known as rust. The
concentration of water associated with iron oxide varies, thus chemical representation is presented as Fe2O3. xH2O. the electric circuit works a passage of electrons and irons occurs, thus if an electrolyte is present it will facilitate oxidation.
FACTORS WHICH PROMOTE CORROSION Reactivity of metal. Presence of impurities. Presence of air, moisture, gases like SO2 and CO2. Presence of electrolytes.
RUSTING MOISTURE
DOES
NOT
OCCUR
IN
THE
ABSENCE
OF
This fact has been demonstrated in the diagram shown aside. The diagram (b) shows that: The nails hung outside the dessicator and those in tube which were exposed to both air and moisture, rust within a short period of time and those in the dessicator and in the other tube remain bright and will remain so for months. It has also been observed that calcium chloride absorbed all the moisture in the dessicator and in the tube. Under this condition, the iron nails failed to rust. We may therefore, conclude that rusting does not occur in the absence of moisture. On the other hand, the control experiments, in which the nails are exposed outside the dessicator and the other tube to both air and moisture, show again that---- Both Air and Water are necessary for rusting.
PREVENTION OF RUSTING BARRIER PROTECTON In t his the metal surface is not allowed to come in contact with moisture, O2 and CO2. Coating the metal surface with paint. Applying oil or grease. Electroplating with non corroding metals like Ni, Cr, Al, Sn, and Zn. Coating with alkaline phosphate (anti rust) solution. SACRFIFICIAL PROTECTION Covering the surface with a more electropositive metal than iron. The more electropositive metal loses electrons and as long as this coating is present Fe is protected. Example: Galvanisation Covering with zinc. The zinc also forms a protective coating of ZnCO3.Zn (OH) 2. ELECTRICAL PROTECTION (CATHODIC PROTECTION) The iron object is connected to a more active metal either directly or through a wire. Fe acts as the cathode. The more
reactive metal is the anode. It loses electrons and gradually disappears.
ELECTROCHEMICAL THEORY OF RUSTING The phenomenon of corrosion can be explained with the help of electrochemical theory which involves oxidation and reduction reactions. According to electrochemical theory of corrosion, it is believed that non uniform surface of metal or impurities present in iron behave like small electric cells in the presence of water containing dissolved oxygen or carbon dioxide. A film of moisture with dissolved CO2 constitutes electrolytic solution covering the metal surface at various places. In the small electrolytic cells, pure iron acts as anode while cathodes are impure portions.
The overall rusting involves the following steps: Oxidation occurs at the anode of each electrochemical cell. Therefore at each anode neutral iron atoms are oxidised to ferrous ions. At Anode: Fe (s) Fe2+ (aq) + 2e-
Thus, the metal atoms in the lattice pass into the solution as ions leaving electrons on the metal itself. These electrons move towards the cathode region through the metal. At the cathodes of each cell, the electrons are taken up by hydrogen ions (reduction takes place). The H + ions are obtained either through water or from acidic substances (e.g. CO2) in water. H2O H++ OHOr CO2 + H2O H+ +HCO3-
At Cathode: H+ + eH
The hydrogen atoms on the iron surface reduce dissolved oxygen. 4H + O2 2H2O
Therefore, the overall reaction at cathode of different electrochemical cells can be written as: 4H++ O2 + 4e2H2O
The overall redox reaction may be written by multiplying reaction at anode by 2 and adding reaction cathode to equalise number of electrons lost and gained i.e. OXIDATION HALF REACTION: Fe(s)Fe2+ (aq) + 2e-] x2 (EO = -0.44) REDUCTION HALF REACTION: 4H+ + O2 + 4e- 2H2O (EO = 1.23) OVERALL CELL REACTION: 2Fe(s) + 4H++ O2 2Fe2+ (aq) + 2H2O (EO cell = 1.67)
The ferrous ions are oxidised further by atmospheric oxygen to form rust. 4Fe2+ (aq) + O2 (g) + 4H2O And Fe2O3 + xH2O (RUST) Why Salt Water Accelerates Corrosion? This is mainly due to the fact that salt water increases the electrical conduction of electrolyte solution formed on the metal surface. Therefore, rusting becomes more serious problem where salt water is present. 2Fe2O3 + 8H+
Fe2O3. H2O
CONCLUSION Rust consists of hydrated iron (III) oxides Fe2O3. nH2O. Rusting is the common term for corrosion of iron and its alloys such as steel. Corrosion is the process of slowly eating away of the metal due to attack of rusting atmospheric gases on the surface of metals forming oxides, carbonates and sulphates. The process cannot take place in the absence of moisture. According to electrochemical theory of rusting of iron, non uniform surface of metal or impurities present in iron behave like small electric cells in the presence of ater containing dissolved oxygen or carbon dioxide.
