Research Paper
What liquid will cause metals to
corrode or rust faster? I have decided to
base my experiment on four different
types of metals and four different
liquids. I will be using a penny, nail,
paper clip and a needle as my four
metals. My four liquids will be vinegar,
beach, lemon water and salt water.
To get started, the metal contents
should be established. Today’s pennies
are mostly made of zinc with a thin layer
of copper overcoating. A nail is a form
of carbon steel or black iron. Paper clips
are made from a low grade steel. A
needle is made from stainless steel.
Examining the liquids and lemon
juice is a citric acid. It should have
corrosive actions on some of the metals,
but not all. I believe that it will not affect
this penny, except to clean it and shine
it. I don’t think it will affect the paper
clip either. I think that the only way it
will have any affect on the needle or
paper clip, will be if they were damaged or scratched. Corrosion would be caused
If that were the case. I also think there
were not to be any corrosion to the nail
with lemon juice.
Vinegar water is used to clean things.
I don’t think the vinegar will rust a
needle, paper clip, nail, or penny the
fastest. There will be a minimal affect on
The steel material. The carbonation of
water, vinegar and oxygen on the air will
form iron oxide on the nail, the scientific
name for rust. Vinegar will remove any
corrosion and clean the penny.
Bleach is a chloride, like vinegar, I
think the affects will be minimal on
Most of the metals. Since bleach
contains oxygen, it would be most likely
the liquids to rust the nail the fastest. The
affect on the penny will be more like a
cleaning agent, like vinegar and lemon
juice, than as a corrosive.
I think that salt water will be the best
Corrosive liquid.
corrode or rust faster? I have decided to
base my experiment on four different
types of metals and four different
liquids. I will be using a penny, nail,
paper clip and a needle as my four
metals. My four liquids will be vinegar,
beach, lemon water and salt water.
To get started, the metal contents
should be established. Today’s pennies
are mostly made of zinc with a thin layer
of copper overcoating. A nail is a form
of carbon steel or black iron. Paper clips
are made from a low grade steel. A
needle is made from stainless steel.
Examining the liquids and lemon
juice is a citric acid. It should have
corrosive actions on some of the metals,
but not all. I believe that it will not affect
this penny, except to clean it and shine
it. I don’t think it will affect the paper
clip either. I think that the only way it
will have any affect on the needle or
paper clip, will be if they were damaged or scratched. Corrosion would be caused
If that were the case. I also think there
were not to be any corrosion to the nail
with lemon juice.
Vinegar water is used to clean things.
I don’t think the vinegar will rust a
needle, paper clip, nail, or penny the
fastest. There will be a minimal affect on
The steel material. The carbonation of
water, vinegar and oxygen on the air will
form iron oxide on the nail, the scientific
name for rust. Vinegar will remove any
corrosion and clean the penny.
Bleach is a chloride, like vinegar, I
think the affects will be minimal on
Most of the metals. Since bleach
contains oxygen, it would be most likely
the liquids to rust the nail the fastest. The
affect on the penny will be more like a
cleaning agent, like vinegar and lemon
juice, than as a corrosive.
I think that salt water will be the best
Corrosive liquid.