The aim of the experiment I did was based on the corrosion of iron gun nails in 5 different liquids. The hypothesis was that objects with a higher iron content would rust the fastest and the most in an oxygen-abundant, humid atmosphere
The materials needed were:
-10 plastic cups
-2 trays
-20 nails
-blu-tak
-oil
-white vinegar
-salt water
-tap water
-methylated spirits
2 trials were undertaken. 5 cups were used for each trial with 2 nails in each cup. the cups were labelled accordingly, with the name of the liquid and trial number. In each cup, there was one nail fully submerged, and another nail in the same cup immersed in the liquid. (half in, half out).
The nails were then left for a total of 7 days for each trial and then the results and observations of discolouration and corrosion were recorded in a table.
I found that the vinegar was the most effective liquid out of the 5 tested, that corroded the iron gun nails the fastest and the most. All the immersed nails were found to be more corroded than the fully submerged nails. Also, the methylated spirits, being a spirit, evaporated before the full 7 days, so the result for the methylated spirits was not as accurate as I would have wanted it to be.
The immersed nails in white vinegar most likely corroded more as vinegar is high in oxygen and being immersed, the nail was exposed to a more humid, oxygen-rich environment, which hastens the corrosion, expecially on iron.
Iron is the strongest and most abundant element and by finding a way to prevent this corrosion in iron in its pure form will contribute to both the scientific and economic world. Using iron in its pure form without it rusting over time is best as it is strogner than any compound which may have iron particles in it.
Overall, the experiment took 14 days to complete the 2 trials and my room smelt like nail polish mixed with salt and vinegar chips. This was not good at all, although I did learn a great deal by doing this experiment.
Next time I do something like this, I will definitely be much mre organised as I now know what it is like to undergo and officially compelte an SRP.
Until next time, ta.
June 16, 2010
June 12, 2010
Experiment Set-up
This is my experiment set-up.
TRIAL 1
TRIAL 2
They're identical! The two trays are set-up in my room on my table, which is so messy as you can see, and the tray helps prevent me from knocking the cups over and spilling the liquid on my table.
New addition!!
I forgot to mentio previously that I am not using 20 nails in total for the 2 trials, instead of the previous idea of using 10.
I'm using 10 nails for each trial; one submerged and one emerged, because it would provide me with more accurate results and a wider range of results so that I can make conclusions more easily with evidence. Therefore, the aim of my experiment has altered a bit. The aim of my experiment is "To observe whether iron gun nails rust faster submerged or emerged in liquid, and in what liquids."
I'm using 10 nails for each trial; one submerged and one emerged, because it would provide me with more accurate results and a wider range of results so that I can make conclusions more easily with evidence. Therefore, the aim of my experiment has altered a bit. The aim of my experiment is "To observe whether iron gun nails rust faster submerged or emerged in liquid, and in what liquids."
Results
I have completed two trials of my experiment. So far, the results are uniform across the two trials. In each cup for each trial, there were two nails. One nail was submerged in the liquid and the other was exposed to the air. In both trials, the nail exposed to the air rusted more and rusted faster.
I left the two trials to sit for 7 days exactly and vinegar was the liquid to show the most pocitive and the most signs of discolouration and rusting. In this experiment, I used white vinegar and by the third day, the white vinegar had turned an off-orange due to the rust of the nail.
I used 5 liquids; vinegar, tap water, salt water, methylated spirits and canola oil. The liquid which had the least effect on the rusting of the iron gun nail was the canola oil. Being a spirit, the methylated spirits began to evaporate by the third day. It completely evaporated by Day 6.
I left the two trials to sit for 7 days exactly and vinegar was the liquid to show the most pocitive and the most signs of discolouration and rusting. In this experiment, I used white vinegar and by the third day, the white vinegar had turned an off-orange due to the rust of the nail.
I used 5 liquids; vinegar, tap water, salt water, methylated spirits and canola oil. The liquid which had the least effect on the rusting of the iron gun nail was the canola oil. Being a spirit, the methylated spirits began to evaporate by the third day. It completely evaporated by Day 6.
May 12, 2010
Methods and materials
My methods and materials are:
1) Obtain the following equipment:
-5 plastic cups
-100ml non-medical methylated spirits
-100ml vinegar from the kitchen
-100ml salt water
-100ml plain water from the kitchen tap
-100ml olive oil
-5 identical iron nails
-1 tray to hold utensils on
2) Pour each of the 5 liquids into a plastic cup
3) Place an iron nail in each cup
4) Place cups on tray in a shaded room-temperature environment
5) Observe any changes during a period of 3 weeks
6) Record an observations made
7) Repeat steps 1-5 to ensure a fair experiment is undergone
8) Clean up?
I'm not too sure whether leaving them in the sun or shade makes a difference to the rate at which the iron nails will rust but as far as I know and think, I don't belive so. However, I will attempt to keep the tray in a shaded room-temperature environment as much as possible.
1) Obtain the following equipment:
-5 plastic cups
-100ml non-medical methylated spirits
-100ml vinegar from the kitchen
-100ml salt water
-100ml plain water from the kitchen tap
-100ml olive oil
-5 identical iron nails
-1 tray to hold utensils on
2) Pour each of the 5 liquids into a plastic cup
3) Place an iron nail in each cup
4) Place cups on tray in a shaded room-temperature environment
5) Observe any changes during a period of 3 weeks
6) Record an observations made
7) Repeat steps 1-5 to ensure a fair experiment is undergone
8) Clean up?
I'm not too sure whether leaving them in the sun or shade makes a difference to the rate at which the iron nails will rust but as far as I know and think, I don't belive so. However, I will attempt to keep the tray in a shaded room-temperature environment as much as possible.
May 10, 2010
;|
It's been 41 days since my last post -_-. During that time, I've set up my experiment 4 times. Something just has to happen...
1st Mum poured out the liquids accidentally down the sink because she didn't know
I had SRP.
2nd The tray was on my glass table and my elbow knocked my laptop case which
knocked the tray. All liquids besides the oil were soaked up by my rug. Cups
broken.
3rd Dad soon realised he gave me different types of nails though they looked the
same.
4th Currently undergoing! Hope all goes well...Now using clear plastic cups and
all iron nails =D
The longest attempt I have undergone was my 2nd attempt at the experiment. If my table wasn't messy, the experiment would have survived...During that attempt, I did not notice any discolouration or changes to the nail.
1st Mum poured out the liquids accidentally down the sink because she didn't know
I had SRP.
2nd The tray was on my glass table and my elbow knocked my laptop case which
knocked the tray. All liquids besides the oil were soaked up by my rug. Cups
broken.
3rd Dad soon realised he gave me different types of nails though they looked the
same.
4th Currently undergoing! Hope all goes well...Now using clear plastic cups and
all iron nails =D
The longest attempt I have undergone was my 2nd attempt at the experiment. If my table wasn't messy, the experiment would have survived...During that attempt, I did not notice any discolouration or changes to the nail.
