Iron rusting. What causes iron to rust?
Ans: Rust is actually oxide of iron. Rusting is nothing but the reaction of iron with oxygen.
When iron or an alloy that contains iron, like steel, is exposed to oxygen and moisture for a long period of time. Over time, the oxygen combines with the metal at an atomic level, forming a new compound (oxide).
The compound formed by this reaction, the rust is a weaker material and it makes the structure brittle.
Rust was originally a synonym for iron oxides, but is now the general term for metal corrosion. It is a flaky and fragile substance, which is undesirable for most applications that metals are used for. The rate at which a metal rusts depends on its surface area and environment. Moist environments cause significant rust, while salt water accelerates rusting even further.
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