Formation of iron oxide
Steel wool reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide according to the equation below
3O2(g)
+ 2Fe(s) => 2Fe2O3(s)
The reaction is
commonly known as rusting. The oxygen oxidises the iron metal and when
the rate of reaction is increased the enormous amount of heat released
is evident.
How do we increase the
rate of reaction?
We increase the surface area by using steel wool and increase the speed
of the reactants by heating.
Step 1 Heat some steel wool with a bunsen burner.
Step 2 Bring
the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, working in reverse, near the glowing metal.
Take care not to point the nozzle towards people.
The heat produced by the oxidation reaction is such that some of the steel wool melts into balls of iron.
