Atomdude@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml · 2 years agoHow come rust built up on iron things looks like a thick crust, but somehow when it's removed it's like there's nothing gone from the original?message-squaremessage-square8fedilinkarrow-up14arrow-down10
arrow-up14arrow-down1message-squareHow come rust built up on iron things looks like a thick crust, but somehow when it's removed it's like there's nothing gone from the original?Atomdude@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml · 2 years agomessage-square8fedilink
minus-squareCandelestine@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up2·2 years agoBecause the rust is very fluffy, while the iron is very dense. So a very small volume of iron can turn into a large volume of rust. The iron is disappearing though. Just slowly. You could tell if you weighed it with a sensitive scale.
minus-squareDickFiasco@lemm.eelinkfedilinkarrow-up2·2 years agoTo add to this, rust is only about 70% iron by mass, with the remainder being oxygen. So the rust basically weighs a bit more than just the iron used to create it.
minus-squareefiler@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up0·2 years agoJust want to add, that rust is not pure iron oxide(? can’t do chemistry in english) but also contains water molecules
minus-squareAtomdude@lemmy.worldOPlinkfedilinkarrow-up1·2 years agoReally? I suppose rust is stranger than I even thought.
Because the rust is very fluffy, while the iron is very dense. So a very small volume of iron can turn into a large volume of rust.
The iron is disappearing though. Just slowly. You could tell if you weighed it with a sensitive scale.
To add to this, rust is only about 70% iron by mass, with the remainder being oxygen. So the rust basically weighs a bit more than just the iron used to create it.
Just want to add, that rust is not pure iron oxide(? can’t do chemistry in english) but also contains water molecules
Really? I suppose rust is stranger than I even thought.