What causes rust?

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Build your vocabulary for the IGCSE Coordinated Science Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

What causes rust?

Explanation:
Rust happens when iron loses electrons to oxygen in air, but water has to be present to speed things up. Oxygen from the air reacts with iron, and water acts as an electrolyte that lets ions move, so the oxidation keeps going and hydrated iron(III) oxide is formed. The result is the reddish coating we call rust. Simply heating iron doesn’t produce rust, and rust isn’t just a reduction or simply the product of dissolving iron in acid.

Rust happens when iron loses electrons to oxygen in air, but water has to be present to speed things up. Oxygen from the air reacts with iron, and water acts as an electrolyte that lets ions move, so the oxidation keeps going and hydrated iron(III) oxide is formed. The result is the reddish coating we call rust. Simply heating iron doesn’t produce rust, and rust isn’t just a reduction or simply the product of dissolving iron in acid.

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