What is the effect on the rusting of iron if iron is contact with other metals?

Results :
Test tube Metal Intensity of blue colour Intensity of pink colour Gas bubbles E Fe only Low Nil Nil A Fe + Mg Nil High Plenty B Fe + Zn Nil High Plenty C Fe + Sn High Low Few D Fe + Cu High Low Few

Discussion :
Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) is used to detect the Fe2+ ions. Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) produces a dark blue colour in the presence of Fe2+ ions.

 Phenolphthalein is used to detect the OH- ions. Phenolphthalein produces a pink colour in the presence of OH- ions. The bubbles of gas produced are hydrogen gas

Reactions in Test Tube E ( Fe only )

Test tube E is used as a control to study the effect of other metals on the rusting of iron.
In the presence of water and oxygen, rusting of iron occurs to produce iron (II) ions (Fe2+) and hydroxide ions (OH-)

Half equation : Fe (s) O2 + 2H2O + 4e Oxidation Fe2+ + 2e Reduction

4OH-

Fe2+ ions react with potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) to produce a deep blue precipitate. Phenophthalein does not produce a pink colour because the OH- ions produced react with Fe2+ ions to form Fe(OH)2

Reactions in test tube A ( Fe + Mg ) and B ( Fe + Zn )

Deep blue colour does not appear in Test tubes A and B. This implies that Fe2+ ions are not produced, that is iron does not rust. Mg and Zn are more electropositive than iron.
Thus, Mg and Zn act as the negative terminal (anode) and iron acts as the positive terminal ( cathode ).

At the anode : Mg strip and Zn strip

The oxidation of Mg to Mg2+ ions and the oxidation of Zn to Zn2+ ions occur. Electrons are released: Mg (s) Mg2+ (aq) + 2e Zn (s) Zn2+ (aq) + 2e Thus, Mg and Zn are corroded instead of iron. The electrons released then flow to the iron nail and prevent it from forming Fe2+ ions, that is, prevent the rusting of iron.

At the cathode : Iron nails

Water molecules dissociate to form hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). H2O (l) H+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

H+ ions accept electrons and are reduced to hydrogen gas.

 2H+ (aq) + 2e H2 (g) When H+ ions are discharged to form H2 gas, the concentration of OH- ions in water increases. The area around iron nail becomes alkaline and causes the colour of phenolphthalein to change from colourless to pink.

Reactions in test tubes C (Fe+Sn) and D (Fe+Cu)

Deep blue colour appears.
This implies that Fe2+ ions are produced, that is rusting of iron nails has occurred. The high intensity of the blue colour shows that the rusting of iron nail is speeded up.

 Iron is more electropositive than tin and copper. Iron has a greater tendency to lose electrons and acts as the negative terminal (anode). Tin and copper acts as the positive terminal (cathode).

At the anode : Iron nail

Oxidation of iron to Fe2+ ions occurs and electron are released. Fe (s) Fe2+ (aq) + 2e

At the cathode : Tin strip and Copper strip

Electrons released by the iron nail will flow to the tin or copper strip which acts as positive terminal.
Hydrogen ions from water will then accept these electrons and are themselves reduced to hydrogen gas. 2H+ (aq) + 2e H2 (g)

Consequently, tin strip and copper strip do not corrode.

 When hydrogen ions are discharged, the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) in water increases. However, most of the OH- ions produced will combine with Fe2+ ions to form rust. The area around tin strip or copper strip is slightly alkaline and a slight pink colour is observed.

Conclusion :
Iron rusts in the presence of water and air The rusting of iron can be prevented if iron is in contact with more electropositive metals such as Mg and Zn. The rusting of iron is speeded up if iron is in contact with less electropositive metals such as tin or copper.

 The iron construction structure is tied with a bag filled with magnesium or zinc powder ( or magnesium or zinc pieces ) to protect the iron from getting corroded.
Magnesium or zinc, which is more electropositive, will become corrode and is replaced from time to time.