Write the chemical equations for all the steps involved in the rusting of iron. Give any one method to prevent rusting of iron.

Write the chemical equations for all the steps involved in the rusting

1.	Write the chemical equations for all the steps involved in the rusting of iron. Give any one method to prevent rusting of iron.
Answer» Solution :At a particular spot of the iron object, oxidation takes place. That spot ACTS as anode. The reaction at anode can be written as: `2Fe (s) to 2Fe^(2+) (aq) + 4e^(-)`.........(i) Electrons released at anode move through the metal to another spot and reduce oxygen in the presence of `H^+`. This spot acts as CATHODE. The reaction at cathode can be represented as: `O_2 (8) + 4H^(+) (aq) + 4^(e-) to 2H_2O(L)`......... (ii) The overall reaction by combining (i) and (ii) `2Fe (s) + O_2 (g) + 4H^(+ )(aq) to 2Fe^(2+) (aq) + 2H_2O` (l) The ferrous ions are further oxidised to ferric ions which combine with water to form `Fe_(2)O_(3).xH_(2)O` which is the formula of rust. Prevention of rusting : Iron can be prevented from rusting by galvanisation which involves coating iron with zinc. Zinc being more reactive than iron gets oxidised first and thus prevents iron from rusting.