Corrosion (1 Viewer)

[Cheezy-G]

Why doesn't iron rust in kerosene and silica gel. I know it is because of no water but how do you explain it.

 

[Jumbo Cactuar]

Well a mixture of kerosene and silica gel keeps atmospheric water out.

Rust is oxidized iron. So it is redox chemistry;

Fe(s) <--> Fe2+(aq) + 2 e-
4e- + 4 H+(aq) + O2(aq) <--> 2 H2O(l)

No water -> no ionic product -> no H+

One line answer is;

Kerosene and silica gel suppress the corrosion of iron by exclusion of oxidizing agents.