No passwords, No popups, No cost, No AI:
we earn from 'affiliate link' purchases, making the site possible

Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989

-----

Hydrogen reactions from vinegar plus sanded nails

My daughter is doing a science project with nails. She is putting sanded nails into vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] to create hydrogen bubbles. But why do the bubbles appear? What causes the reaction?

Jessica G.
hobbyist - Chicago Ridge, IL, USA
April 6, 2009

April 6, 2009

Hi, Jessica. Has she seen these bubbles form with her own eyes? How does she know the bubbles are hydrogen and not oxygen, or not dissolved air that comes out of the solution when you put something cold into it?

Actually, they are hydrogen bubbles -- but it's not really science if you just assume they are hydrogen because you have read on the internet that they are hydrogen.

What grade is she in? The explanation for a 2nd-grader would be different than for a high school student. The vinegar is acetic acid ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , and acids react with iron, dissolving iron into solution and releasing hydrogen --
Fe + 2H [acetate] --> H₂ (gas) + Fe [acetate]

Good luck!

Regards,

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

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: