BY Team Aakash Byju's

Understand With Examples

What Is Rusting in Chemistry?

Rust is the reddish-brown coating that forms on the surface of iron and iron alloys such as steel.

Step 1

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Rust is fragile and brittle. It weakens iron and steel.

Corrosion of iron is called rusting. Corrosion of other metals is not called rusting.

For example, Corrosion of silver is called tarnishing.

When iron and its alloys, such as steel, are exposed to moist air, they get corroded and form a reddish-brown flaky substance called rust.

Step 2

The chemical name of rust is hydrated iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃.nH₂O),n represents the natural number which is not fixed.

Rusting does not occur in dry air. The substances necessary for rusting are iron, oxygen and water. The process of rusting is slow.

Examples of Rusting

When exposed to moist air, the following get rusted: - Unused iron rods near building construction

- Unused steel spoons, thick iron chains used in cranes at the docks of a shipyard to lift heavy loads, old iron pillars, gates, bridges, etc.