Rusting is an easy to recognize chemical reaction, as the nice shiny metal turns into an ugly red/brown flaky substance. It happens spontaneously in moist air, as the reaction happens easily and quite quickly It is the reaction of iron or alloys of iron (like steel) with oxygen and water. The reaction is also called corrosion and is an oxidation reaction as oxygen is added to the iron. The reaction costs us £ millions each year in England alone.

Prevention of rusting is easy: all you have to do is keep out either air (21% oxygen) or water or both. This is done by; oil, grease, wax, varnish, paint or galvanize the iron. The chemical name of rust is hydrated iron(III)oxide and has the chemical formula Fe2O3xH2O.

The equation for rusting shows the two steps that take place in this process.

Step 1 iron + oxygen –> iron oxide

Step 2 iron oxide + water –> hydrated iron oxide (rust)

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