The reddish-brown crust that often forms on iron and steel objects comes from changes that take place in the outer surface of the metal itself. This crust, called rust, is caused by the mixture of the metal with oxygen from water in the air.
When moisture from the air, or from anywhere else, reaches an object with iron in it, oxygen in the water combines with atoms of iron to form molecules of a compound called iron oxide.
The iron oxide particles remain suspended in the water, but when the water evaporates, the particles remain, forming a reddish coating on the surface of the iron. Without the presence of water, objects cannot rust.
Other metals besides iron and steel can rust when exposed to moisture, but not all rust is “rust-colored.” For instance, when copper or bronze rusts, it turns green. The green crust is called a patina.
9 Comments
is not necessary that water evaporates to have rust deposits. rust formations is a complex series of reactions that finally leads to what is called rust Fe2O3 (red iron oxyde)
ok
doesnt rust have to mix with co2(carbon dioxide) not oxygen to form?
someone on another site sed rusting is caused by oxidation. rusting IS oxidaton, people!!
this is insane someone please figure this out. Everyone has different answers. Anonymous.
No, carbon dioxide has both carbon and oxygen, but iron oxide only requires pure oxygen to be produced by the oxygen and iron molecules. The oxygen is mixed with the carbon in carbon dioxide.
can you rust some thing faster in saltwater than fresh
oo-rah giggity
nice work