If you have a rusty bike, chances are it\'s made of steel, which is an alloy of

Question

If you have a rusty bike, chances are it's made of steel, which is an alloy of iron and carbon. Steel is approximately 2% C and 98% Fe by weight. One of the reasons for using steel rather than pure iron is that the addition of carbon atoms increases the strength and rigidity of the metal, making it more difficult to bend and to break. However, the downside of steel is that it still rusts like iron. the chemical reaction for the formation of rust is: in this reaction, the oxidation state of O in Fe_2O_3 is -2. What is the oxidation state of Fe in the product? (Remember the charges of the ions need to balance to zero in a compound.) What are the following? Oxidized species Reduced Species Oxidizing Agent Reducing Agent Another form of rust can be created if iron is exposed to chlorine gas instead of oxygen gas. This reaction is as follows: Ignoring stoichiometry, if Cl^- is a stronger reducing agent than O^2-, does iron rust more quickly in an oxygen atmosphere or a chlorine atmosphere?

Explanation / Answer

(1)

Fe2O3

Oxidation state of O = -2

2 * oxidation state of Fe + 3 * oxidation state of O = 0

Oxidation state of Fe = 2 * 3 / 2 = 3

(2)

4 Fe + 3 O2 -> 2 Fe2O3

(a)

Oxidation state of Fe goes from 0 to +3.

Fe is oxidized species.

(b)

Oxidation state of O goes from 0 to -2

Oxygen is the reduced species.

(c)

Oxygen is the oxidizing agent.

(d)

Fe is the reducing agent.

A stronger oxidizing agent will rust iron more quickly.

Since Cl- is a stronger reducing agent, iron will rust more quickly in an oxygen atmosphere.

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