Understand how metals interact with air (oxygen) and water, resulting in basic oxides, corrosion, and rusting.
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Diagram of the three bottles testing rust conditions.
Iron only rusts when exposed to both air and moisture simultaneously.
Introduction to corrosion and the conditions required for rusting.
To understand why iron rusts, scientists use a simple 3-bottle experiment with iron nails:
This proves that both moist air and water are essential for rusting.
Explain burning of magnesium and the basic nature of metal oxides.
When you ignite a magnesium ribbon in the air, it burns rapidly with a dazzling white flame. The ribbon transforms entirely into a fine, white powder. This new substance is magnesium oxide, formed because the magnesium reacted with oxygen in the air.
Diagram showing the red litmus turning blue.
When dissolved in water, metal oxides turn red litmus paper blue, proving they are basic.
MCQ covering rust and metal oxides.
A laboratory technician needs to store a fresh batch of sodium metal. Why must they store it submerged in kerosene?