Question

In the rusting of iron, iron has been:

• A. oxidised
• B. reduced
• C. vaporised
• D. decomposed

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

oxidised

In corrosion, metal is oxidised by loss of electrons to oxygen to form metal oxide. In rusting of iron, at one spot of the iron object oxidation occurs and that spot behaves as an anode.

Anode: $Fe\left(s\right)\to F{e}^{2+}\left(aq\right)+2e^{-}$

Cathode: $4e^{-}+4H^{+}\left(aq\right)+O_2\left(aq\right)\to 2H_{2}O\left(l\right)$