TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: STANDARDIZING A SOLUTION OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Rust which is red or yellowish brown is the result of iron interacting with water and air.
This substance can also be referred to as iron oxide Fe2O3. Any iron object leftout in
the open unprotected and at the mercy of the elements we succumb to rust at some
point in its life span. Objects the begin to rust may suffer a decrease in its performance,
lifespans and looks. There for its beneficial if the rust can be removed from said object.

Possible solution 1

Submerged the rust object in vinegar

4Fe + 3O2 + 6H2O → 4Fe(OH)3

Possible solution 2

Submerge rusted object in molasses

Possible solution 3

Use electrolysis
Liquid: 250ml of white vinegar

The formation of rust requires iron, water and oxygen. Although it's a complex process,
the chemical equation is simply

4Fe + 3O2 + 6H2O → 4Fe(OH)3.

What is electrolysis?

Electrolysis removes rust from metallic objects. During electrolysis, an electrical current
will flow through a liquid, such as a molten ionic compound or aqueous solution. Atoms
are rearranged, causing irreversible changes in chemical composition.

Adding conductors, often in the form of copper wire (which has a higher melting point),
to the liquid and connecting the conductors to a power supply creates an electrical
current.

Electrons in a metallic structure flow towards the positive terminal of the power supply.
This causes one of the electrodes (conductors) to become positively charged and the
other to become negatively charged. The positive ions (cations) in the liquid attract to
the negative electrode and the negative ions (anions) are attracted to the positive
electrode. At this stage electron exchange occurs, creating a chemical reaction.

The process of removing rust using electrolysis

Please take great care if you attempt to remove rust from an object via electrolysis.

To remove rust by electrolysis you will require:

A large plastic tub or container

Battery charger

Your rusty object

A piece of steel

Water

Sodium carbonate substance

The process of removing rust with electricity is fairly simple and can be achieved with
minimal cost and effort

Fill the container with enough water to fully submerge the rusty object.

To create an aqueous solution, you will need to add a sodium carbonate substance
such as washing soda or soda crystals to the water.

Connect the negative terminal of the battery charger to the rusty object and fully
submerge it in the aqueous solution.

Half-submerge the piece of steel in the solution, making sure to leave some of it out
of the water. This piece of steel will be sacrificed, as it will attract the iron atoms that are
removed from the rusty object.
 Connect the positive terminal of the battery charger to the piece of steel that is not in
the solution.

Turn the battery on and wait for the reaction to occur.

During the process, you will see that the iron particles begin to shift from the rusty object
towards the piece of steel. This is because the negatively charged particles are
attracted to the positive charge.

The process is finalized when all of the rust particles have shifted from the rusty object
and are settled on the steel piece. At this stage, you can switch off the battery charger
and remove the now cleaned object from the solution (use a mild abrasive technique to
remove the remaining loose rust particles from the object before wiping it off and drying
it completely).
Steps to remove rust using Vinegar

When a mixture of iron oxides forms on the surface of iron objects or structures, it is
called rusting.

The rust forms when oxygen and iron react in the presence of water (or has high levels
of moisture). A layer of a red, flaky substance forms on the surfaces that easily crush
into a powder.

If you are wondering whether it can remove rust, you are right; it can.

Following are the directions to use vinegar for removing rust from iron objects:

Step 1: Fill a vessel with one gallon of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Also, add
one cup of table salt. Now thoroughly stir the mixture.

Reduce the quantity of solution according to the size of the object.

Step 2: Place the object inside the vessel, submerging it completely.

Step 3: Wait for 20 minutes to 12 hours and see if the rust strips off the object.

Some objects may get cleaned within 30 minutes, while some can take a long time, up
to 12 hours.

Step 4: Do not place the delicate objects inside the solution; otherwise, it may destroy
the coating of delicate objects.

Step 5: After you have submerged your object in the solution, and you see the rust
shedding, you can clean the object with the help of a brush.

Step 6: Make sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves and take the object out of the
solution. Place it on a cloth and start brushing the remaining rust off of the object.

Step 7: Once your object is free of rust, make a solution of one cup of baking soda in
one gallon of water and let your item stay in the solution.
Step 8: Stir the solution and then place the object in water for twelve minutes. It will
neutralize the acidity.

Step 9: Once taken out, you can clean it with a cloth. Ensure that it is entirely dry when
you set it aside.

Cytric acid evaorust and molasses

Rust and vinegar reaction

● 3CH3COOH + FeOOH —–> Fe(CH3COO)3 + 2H2O

● Acetic acid +iron oxide hydroxide—> iron acetate + water

The acid forms a water insoluble salt with the iron oxide which then crumbles from the layer of
rust the acidity also oxides the upper layer of iron under the rust ti for a rust resisting oxide layer

Procedure 1

● Fill the container with enough water to fully submerge the rusty tool.
● Add sodium carbonate to the water.
● Connect the negative terminal of the battery charger to the rusty tool and fully submerge
it in the aqueous solution.
● Partly submerge the piece of steel in the solution, ensure that part of the steel is above the
water. The exposed area will attract the iron atoms that are removed from the rusty tool.
● Connect the positive terminal of the battery charger to the piece of steel that is not in the
solution.
● Turn the battery on and wait for the reaction to take place.

Procedure 2

● Fill a container of vinegar and add 1 cup of table salt (amount varies with size of tool for
rust removal)
● Submerge the rusted ferrous tool completely in the vinegar
● Wait 12 hours (time will vary with tool size)
● After the time has elapsed, attempt to scrub the tool with a brush after which remove the
tool from the vinegar and observe its condition to see how much rust was removed.
● Place the tool in baking soda for 30 mins to neutralize the acidity.
● Compare the condition of the tool to that of the one used in the electrolysis method