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A little science help here ?! Thanks :)?
Hey people :)
Could somebody please explain to me how the acid in vinegar can cause iron to corrode? It'd be good if you could elaborate with chemical equations?
Thanks a lot :) Your answers are greatly appreciated! :D
2 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavourite answer
i hate science! btw mix vinegar with baking soda u form chemical reaction! there u happy? where are my points!!???
- ?Lv 71 decade ago
Acids usually corrode most metals. (Some rare metals, such as platinum, gold, rhodium, etc. are very resistant to chemical attack.)
The electrons in the metal are fairly easily detached, and they combine with the cation (positive hydrogen ion) to make neutral hydrogen and ionized metal. The metal atoms, now positive, are attracted to the negative anions (the other part of the acid molecule) in the solution; they detach from the metal and enter the solution. This effect is called corrosion of the metal.
When dissolving in acid, iron will behave in either of two ways: giving up two electrons per atom, or three.
In the first case, the reaction with acetic acid is:
Fe + 2CH3COOH --> Fe(CH3COOH)2 + H2. This is formally called iron (II) acetate; another common name is ferrous acetate.
In the second case, it is:
2Fe + 6CH3COOH --> 2Fe(CH3COOH)3 + 3H2. This is formally called iron (III) acetate; another common name is ferric acetate.
