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The reaction between stainless steel and bleach

2004

Hi,

I am a student and I did an experiment about the reaction between stainless steel nail and bleach, and I found that stainless steel nail rusted after putting it in bleach about 2 weeks. I would like to ask why stainless steel reacted with bleach.

Thank you!

Rachel L.
student - Hong Kong

If you used a nail, it probably was of the 400 series SS. This is basically iron and a small amount of chrome alloy. Bleach is a solution of sodium hypochlorite, which is a moderately strong oxidizer. Rust is iron oxide. Iron + oxygen + moisture = rust. There will also be a trace of chloride ions in the solution which is well known to promote rusting.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004

Iron isn't the only thing that rusts like that. Alluminum is also apparent to have rust on it if vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and bleach are mixed together and the Fishing hook put in it and it will rust.

Jack Stevens
- pompano beach, Florida
October 8, 2009

Hi, Jack. Welcome . . .

but your reply is incorrect. Only ferrous materials (iron, steel, stainless steel) can rust because rust is defined as iron oxide. So no iron = no rust.

A rotting fish can stink like a rotting vegetable, but it is not a rotting vegetable. Other materials can corrode like iron corrodes, but the corrosion product is not rust.

Two more things: first, I strongly doubt that fishing hooks are aluminum; I'd bet they are all hardened steel. Second, don't mix anything with bleach! Read the label! Adding vinegar to bleach releases poisonous chlorine gas.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 9, 2009