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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Nails rusting science project
Q. Hi, I am doing a 8th grade Science Project and I just had a few questions, that might help me write a report on my project.
Why does tap water rust nails so fast?
Why does rust weaken things?
Thanks for the help!
p.s. reply within 1-3 days please :)
student - Yellow Springs, Ohio
November 5, 2008
November 6, 2008
Hi, Keturah. Water conducts electricity and corrosion is an electrochemical reaction. Iron and steel are strong, rust is a weak fluffy powder.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
|
Ted Mooney you a smart dude. Antonio J [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- South Carolina November 13, 2008 November 14, 2008
Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey |
Q. My son and I just finished an experiment on corroding one 12 penny nail in salt water, sulfur water, and tap water. Corrosion appeared on the nail in the salt water first, followed by the sulfur water, then tap water. I noticed in the above posting the nails corroded in tap water first. I know it doesn't really matter which nail corroded first. However, is this odd that the salt water showed signs of rusting first?
Connie Johnson- Niceville, Florida
December 10, 2008
A. Hi, Connie. It is generally accepted that salt water is more corrosive than fresh water, so your results are neither surprising nor wrong. But when I did the experiment I did not personally see the salt water being more corrosive.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 15, 2008
A. I think you should use salt water fresh water and sugar water. The salt water would corrode the iron nail faster I did a project on it.
taylor h [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- ft Washington, Maryland
December 30, 2008
by Janice VanCleave
on AbeBooks
or eBay or
Amazon
(affil links)
I read most of these comments I'm also doing a project on rusting nails for a big state exam I have no questions but I would just like to say that the advice giving on this website is very helpful and relieving; definitely be on this again.
thanks!
- Dublin, Ireland
January 9, 2009
A. You should use Coke because it will rust in like four days! I did it for science fair! I'm a seventh grader
Ashontai B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Marion, Ohio
January 22, 2009
Q. Hi,
the questions and answers on this site were really helpful and as I was reading you told one of the students to spray the solution on the nail for better rust results. I was wondering how many times and how much you should spray on the nail.
--elaine
- San Jose, California
January 27, 2009
A. Bleach ⇦ bleach/sodium hypochlorite in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] because it will rust 1 to 2 days. I did it for a science project.
Janel B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- El Dorado Springs, Missouri
February 2, 2009
Q. All of the entries above have different timings. Some say it takes a few hours for the nails to rust, some say days, and a few say weeks. I'm in 7th grade and I'm doing this science project and don't know how much time I need. I'd appreciate if you'd answer asap.
Thank you!
student - Brooklyn, New York
March 3, 2009
Hi, Hurmat. Who would you like to answer your question -- those who said hours, or those who said days, or those who said weeks? Are you looking for the time to the first spec of rust, or the nail rusting all the way through, or somewhere in between? :-)
The serious answer is to set aside a practical length of time, which is probably a week for a 7th grader, and start seeing what you see. Good luck!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 4, 2009
A. Use steel nails, they are not treated and will dissolve the fastest
Carly M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Oatmeal, Texas
March 16, 2009
Q. I Am Doing The Same Experiment,"How does changing the type of liquid affect how fast a nail rusts?" My question is for my research paper I did all my research and have come up with using these types of liquids: water, salt water, sugar water, bleach, and vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . The one in water started turning a bit yellow orangeish after 30 min. I put it in and the next 2 days the bleach one was turning kinda brownish. My question is why is it doing that? Is it because the bleach was colored somewhat green?
Layla L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Grayslake, Illinois
April 8, 2009
A. Olive oil is really quick in rusting nails, coat the nail in olive oil and put it in fresh or salt water and leave it over night.
Georgia M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Sydney, NSW, Australia
July 2, 2009
July 2, 2009
Hi, Georgia. I would be shocked if that is true.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Hi I'm Kevin . For my experiment about rusting nails I used 3 liquids- tap water, saltwater and vinegar. After around 2.5 weeks all signs of rusting have completely stopped for some reason! I haven't even done anything to them. However I have tied string to them and they're hanging in the liquid. Also the rust in the vinegar is strange. Instead of the nail turning red it has turned greyish something. Is this because of a coating (I'm not sure if my nail has one) or a property of a vinegar?
Thanks.
- Adelaide, SA Australia
July 2, 2009
A. Hi, Kevin. It sounds like there is a good chance you used galvanized nails. The galvanizing is applied specifically to deter rusting. What does the box say? If you don't have the box you have to start over with nails from a box that you do have. Unfortunately, you can't learn much if you don't have facts to start with :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 2, 2009
September 8, 2009
Q. Hi I'm Megan and I'm in 6th grade and I have a science fair and I waz thinking of doing a rusting project and my Science teacher said I have to do it soo specific so I waz thinking...
1)Get 2 jars
2)Fill one jar with water and other jar with vinegar
3)Wait for 1 week and compare the results
4)Tell witch Nail rusted quicker in witch liquid (and compare results each day)(on paper)
Tell me what you think.
-Thanks:)
- Georgia
A. Hi, Megan. That's fine as far as you've gone. Practice your spelling homework while you're waiting for something to happen :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September , 2009
October 7, 2009
Q. I'm in the eighth grade and I'm doing a science fair project about: What additives will best prevent nail rust?
I'm currently in the research stage of the project and I've isolated three additives ( WD-40
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links]
, Nail Polish, and paint) All three of which create some sort of a 'coating' to protect the nail from water and oxygen, preventing rust (Iron Oxide).
I'm taking my notes in the form of questions and answers (I.E. What is rust? -Fe2O3, What is
WD-40 made of?, How does this effect the rust?, etc.).
I've wrote about 4 + 1/2 pages of notes, and I need 1-3 more educated questions about rust, anti-rusting agents/additives, whatever.
These are due this Friday, but we will be building more up on them as the months go on.
Thank you!
Student - Mckinney, Texas
A. Hi, Jonathan. What are the advantages & disadvantages of using WD-40 ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] vs. Nail Polish or Paint (cost, ease of application, ease of removability, safety/toxicity, effectiveness as a corrosion inhibitor)? What are the advantages & disadvantages of using Nail Polish vs Paint?
What do you think is the mechanism(s) by which these coatings deter corrosion?
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 8, 2009
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