Rusty nail experiment : Fizzics Education

Rusting is the oxidation of metal, whereby the oxygen in the environment combines with the metal to form a new compound called a metal oxide. In the case of iron rusting, the new compound is called iron oxide… also known as rust!

This science experiment is all about controlling variables to explore which material will rust an iron nail first.

Variables to test

More on variables here

• Try boiling the water… does this make the nail rust faster, slower or is there no impact on the rusting time?
• What happens when you use different liquids?
• If you scratch the nail first, will it rust faster or slower?
• What if you use iron wool and iron filings instead?
• Try galvanised Nails

Further information

Rusting, also known as corrosion, is the reddish-brown layer formed over an iron when exposed to air and water. Rusting occurs mainly because of a chemical reaction between iron with water and oxygen in the air.

Simple formula…     

Water + Oxygen + Iron = Rusting

The chemical reaction usually occurs very slowly and it is an oxidation process. Rusting can also occur on other metals such as copper and they may not always be called ‘rust’.

Rusting can also occur in water. The carbon dioxide gas in the air mixes with water to form a weak acid called carbonic acid. This acidified water can dissolve some of the iron and water begins to break down into oxygen and hydrogen. The free oxygen reacts with the dissolved iron to form iron oxide or rust.