CERTIFICATE

This to certify that MONIKA PUNDIR of classxiisc student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Happy Vally has carrid out her project work. The project work report has been submitted in the partial fulfillment for AISSCE 2010-2011 under Central Bord Of Secondary Education.
Mr. B.L.Saini Chemistry teacher External Examiner signature

MRS. L.C.Morie (Principal)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am extremely greatful to my Chemistry teacher Mr.B.L.Saini for the wavering and unlimited guidance with the constant encouragement through out the course of this study. I woud like to thank the Principal of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Happy Vally Mrs. L.C.Morie fo the rendering all the possible facilities to carry out the project work. Monika Pundir
CLASS-XIISC

INTRODUCTION

Iron is one of the widely distributed elements in the nature. One of its striking characteristics is that it undregoes rusting on combining with water,air & carbon-dioxide due to which its surface gets covered with a red brown flake coating called RUST. Rust is affected by moisture,oxygen & carbon-dioxide. Rust is soft & porous & it gradually falls of the surface of iron material. It is a continuous process & it gradually eats up iron due to which an iron object loses its strength. It is very wasteful process & should be prevented. It is very-very slow process.

REQUIREMENTS
APPARATUS: 1. Boiling tubes 2. Rubber stopper 3. Iron nails 4. Burner 5. Test tube, Holder & Stand CHEMICALS: 1. Distilled water 2. Dilute HCL 3. Dlute NaCl solution 4. Anhydrous Calcium Chloride 5. Cotton 6. Mustard Oil

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 electro CHEMICAL THEORY as follows: 1. Water vapours on the surface of the metal dissolved carbon-dioxide & oxygen from the air . Thus the surface of the metal is covered with the solution of carbon-dioxide with water, i.e.carbonic acid:H2O + CO2 ====> H2CO3-------------(i) This acts as an electrolytic solution of the cell. The carbonic acid and water dissociate to a smal extent as follows: H2CO3 <======> 2H+ + CO32H2O<======> H+ + OH-------(ii)

2.

Iron in contact with the dissolved CO2 & O2undergoes oxidation as follows:Fe======> Fe++ + 2e---------------(iii) As a result iron converted into ferrous (Fe++)ion. 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 & H2O. Thus H+ ions are converted into H atoms. H+ +e-======> H-------------(iv) Thus H atoms either react with the dissolved oxygen or oxygen from air to from water. 4H + O2======>2H2O------------(v) The complete reaction may be written as :O2 + 4H+ + 4e-======> 2H2O--------(vi) The dissolved oxygen may take up electrons directly to from OH- ions as follows:-

3.

O2 + 2H2O + 4e-======> 4OH----------(vii) The over all reaction o the miniature cell will be :2Fe(s)+O2(g)+4H+(aq)===>2Fe++(aq)+2H2O 4. The ferrous ions formed react with the dissolved oxygen or oxygen from air to from ferric oxide as follows :4Fe++ +O2 + 4H2O======>2Fe2O3 +8H+(aq) Ferric oxide then undergoes hydration to form RUST as follows:Hydrated ferric oxide (RUST)