Iron Oxide

i know rust is iron oxide, but i wan wonder if there was a quicker/better way to get it? scraping the rust off something just doesn't give up very much

Magnesium. When Magnesium is burned it produces its own oxygen. Thats why flares work underwater.

so if i burn magnesium i will get iron oxide?

so if i burn magnesium i will get iron oxide?

No. When magnesium is burned it releases the by product of oxygen. Like when gasoline is burned it releases byproducts like hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbondioxide, NOX, and more.

If you want iron oxide just find some rust. All iron oxide is is just oxidized iron because of a low carbon content in the steel. Lots of things oxidize, the statue of liberty for instance, its made of copper, but its green because it oxidized.

there are companies that produce chemicals, you can get it from them if you have some kind of license. other than that, you'll just need to scrape away.

also, magensium can't possibly produce its own oxygen, it's a metal, oxygen can't just appear. and when it burns it uses oxygen.

also, magensium can't possibly produce its own oxygen, it's a metal, oxygen can't just appear. and when it burns it uses oxygen.

Sorry if my previous post was a bit misleading. Magnesium in the presence of water produces oxygen Its a breakdown of molecules. When magnesium is burned under water it deconstructs the water molecules (H2O). Therefore Oxygen is released (which is fuel for magnesium) and hydrogen is released, which is extremely dangerous near a fire.

With the proper makeup hydrogen explosions can be avoided.

The same thing can happen in a humid climate. Magnesium can also break down the air around us to form nitrides releasing oxygen, and magnesium oxide.

ok thanks, that makes much more sense. one questions though, how do you ignite it? do you just need to get it up to a certain temperature (to achieve the activation energy for this reaction) or will i happen at room temperature and temperature increase will just speed it up?

The only way I've ever lit it is over a bunsen burner in an open flame.

i meant how would you light it under water, i've lit it in chemistry class with a bunsen burner as well.

i meant how would you light it under water, i've lit it in chemistry class with a bunsen burner as well.

Dont know. Look at how flares work.

Steel wool rusts quickly, and falls apart.
Magnesium and water? I know sodium and water will spontaneously ignite.

it doesn't spontaneously ignite but apparently if you can get it to ignite it will pull the oxygen out of the water to fuel the combustion.

Hey whats the difference between IronOxide and Iron(III)Oxide?

Sorry if my previous post was a bit misleading. Magnesium in the presence of water produces oxygen Its a breakdown of molecules. When magnesium is burned under water it deconstructs the water molecules (H2O). Therefore Oxygen is released (which is fuel for magnesium) and hydrogen is released, which is extremely dangerous near a fire.

With the proper makeup hydrogen explosions can be avoided.

The same thing can happen in a humid climate. Magnesium can also break down the air around us to form nitrides releasing oxygen, and magnesium oxide.


Learn something new everyday:)

Hey whats the difference between IronOxide and Iron(III)Oxide?
well iron oxide is just saying that it's an oxide of iron. meaning it's iron that reacted with oxygen. it's actually not correct to say iron oxide.

iron(III) oxide means it's an ionic compound with iron(III) ions and oxygen ions. you can also get iron(II) oxide that is an iron(II) ion with an oxygen ion.

it's difficult to explain in writting but i hope you get the idea. the 2 chemicals, iron (II) oxide and iron (III) oxide, have different chemical properties and physical properties. i think iron (II) oxide is black, and iron (III) oxide is orange-ish, normal rust colored.

hehe, i see someone read up on thermite.
Dont burn your house down.

it doesn't spontaneously ignite but apparently if you can get it to ignite it will pull the oxygen out of the water to fuel the combustion.

back in high school my brother and i stole some magnesium from the school lab and managed to light it with a zippo lighter before tossing it into the pond at the local country club on a friday night when the place was full. lit the whole pond up. it also breaks up on contact with the cold water shooting streamlets like fireworks. man that was cool. ducks and geese scattering as the place emptied out onto the patio to see what the hell was going on.

a friend of mine was taking a class on metal casting on the second floor at the community college, melting down scrap aluminium to make things. a piece of magnesium was in the scrap pile and when tossed into the smelter it ignited and melted thru the bottom of the smelter, down to first floor and thru the concrete floor below.

fun stuff

You can get rust at any tire shop from the brake lathe. I worked at one and people used the excuse it was for roses or some shit. Better send your gf in though so you don't look suspect.

BTW, its not THAT hard to explain the difference between Iron 2 and 3 oxides. It's actaully pretty easy, burrito;

Iron(II) Oxide = FeO
Iron(III) Oxide = Fe2O3

oh yeah, another thing that i guess i forgot to correct, it actually IS correct to say Iron oxide, it just means Iron(III) Oxide.

Wow, i would love to try that, but i might hurt somone if i do, idk, that sounds awesome :grinyes: