A redox reaction is described by Chemwiki as reactions in which one reactant is oxidized

and one reactant is reduced simultaneously . The aim of this practical was to find out if the
oxidation of steel nails reduces the mass after the rust is removed. The variables within
this experiment is the unscratched nails, dented nails and scratched with sandpaper nails,
as well as galvanised and un-galvanised nails. The constants were the salt liquid in which
the nails were left in for an amount of time. The hypothesis for this experiment is if an
un-galvanised nail is scratched with sand paper then it will have a greatest loss of mass
than a galvanised, unscratched nail.

Materials:

9 un-galvanized nails
9 galvanized nails
6 sealable plastic containers
Fine sandpaper
Pliers
Salt
Distilled water

Electronic scales
Measuring beaker
Stirring utensil
Paper towels
Spatula
Tweezers


Method:

A suitable place was found to conduct the experiment, making sure

that the containers are able to be stored for 8 days without any disturbances. Then
all items listed in the materials list were sourced and collated. The galvanised and
un-galvanised nails were separated and made into three separate groups; the
unscratched, dented and the one that had been treated with sandpaper, making a
total of 6 groups.

The 6 plastic containers were labelled using label stickers for each of
the 6 groups and placed each of the corresponding trio of nails. The nails were then
either left alone for the unscratched nails, dented using pliers multiple times or
roughly brushed with fine sandpaper a few times.

Each group of three nails were then measured for their mass using an
electronic scale, with all three nails being measured at once and then divided by 3
to gain the average mass of each group of nails which was noted down.

0.5 grams of salt was then measured out using the electronic scale
also, and was placed in one of the plastic containers. This was repeated until all
plastic containers had 0.5 grams of salt in them. Then 30 mL of distilled water was
poured into each of the plastic containers, and stirred to dissolve the salt into the
liquid.

The nails were then placed in each of the designated plastic

container, with the lid sealed and set aside to not be disturbed. On days 1, 2, 4 and
9 the containers were checked and photographs using 60x microscopes were taken
for records and observations.

On day 9 the nails were removed from the containers using tweezers
and were placed onto paper towels. The salt water was then drained from the
containers. Each set of nails were weighed using the electronic scales in their group
of three, and divided by 3 to gain the average mass of each nail, and was noted
down.

After that, a spatula was used to carefully remove any rust or salt

crystals that had accumulated and was visible to the observers eyes. Once all rust
and salt crystals were removed to the best of the ability, each set of nails were
then weighed again using the electronic scale and noted down.

Table:

Galvanised Nail Results

0.81
0.8

Mass of Nails (g) 0.79

0.78
0.77

Stages of Experiment
Unsctratched

Sandpaper

Dented

Un-Galvanised Nail results

1.1

Mass of Nails (g) 1.05

1

Stages of Experiment
Unscatched

W
eight
before
treatme
nt:
W

Ungalvanized
unscratched:

1.0
46g

Sandpaper

Ungalvanized
sandpaper:

1.0
54g

Dented

Ungalvanized
dented:

G
alvani
zed
unscr
atche
d:

G
alva
nize
d
san
dpa
per:

G
alva
nize
d
den
ted:

1.
09g

0.
803g

.78
3g

.79
7g

eight
after
treatme
nt:

90

W
eight
after
rust was
removed

1.0

55

1.0
87

1.0

1.
045

0.
798

1.0

1.
043

0.
795

52

.80
4

.78
5

0
.78
2

0
.8

The images of the practical can be found at

(https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BQXoFzYrfUZfmhLaGJBeHR2S3EtQVpZVExIVWZxZmFqWEFfWGlDLWZBLXdpVn
ZYNVNzMW8/0B15m8Eebys2BfmtzdTR4Z2stbllFVTRiNjQyNXpjRXY3N1A3cENk
WEhCY04zb0h5RGJMWG8).

The table above shows the changes of mass of each group of nails. The same

results are shown in the two graphs directly beneath the table, with the graph on the left
depicting the results of the un-galvanised nails, and the right showing the results of the
galvanised nails. On the x axis of both graphs is the stages of the experiment. These
stages were: stage 1 before the experiment, stage 2 after the nails were removed from
the liquid after 8 days, stage 3 after the rust and salt crystals were removed from the
nails.

The expected results for this practical was a bell curved graph, which

increased in the middle and then decreased as it reached the final weight. This
expectation was reached with three out of the six measurements completed, the
un-galvanised sandpaper and unscratched as well as the galvanised sandpaper nails.
The other results were quite sporadic and can only be this way due to errors in the
weighing technique or other errors.

Even though in the photographic evidence there is little to no rust on

the galvanised nails, there was salt crystals easily visible in the photographs which
would have led to a difference in mass than at the beginning of the experiment.
There was no salt crystals found on the un-galvanised nails, only rust or bare nail.

As the practical progressed, there was a number of errors that could

have occurred. These errors could include but are not limited to: difference in ratio

of salt and distilled water, incorrect use of electronic scales, contamination of the
nails, or incorrect interpretation of results. These errors could have all been
avoided largely if precautions were taken.

When measuring out the ratio of salt and distilled water into the

plastic containers, there was little strict regard to making sure all containers were
filled correctly and precisely. Because of the inaccuracy towards the experiment,
the amount of distilled water was changed from 20 mL to 30 mL due to un-careful
handling of the containers. With each container possibly holding different amounts
of salt to distilled water ratio the final mass results could then inaccurate to each
other and cause an imbalance within the results.

If electronic scales experience environmental disturbances such as a

shift in the airflow above it, the reading for the mass can be displayed inaccurately.
This is generally caused by the user moving impatiently waiting for all results to be
weighed and rushing each procedure. If each procedure is rushed, then the scales
are likely to not have completely calculated the mass correctly to the third decimal
point of a gram. This would then possibly lead to a difference in the results noted
down and the actual correct results. The electronic scales could also be faulty, and
be inaccurately showing all results off by an amount, but that would make all results
inaccurate by a certain degree.

Contamination of the nails during the experiment could have affected

the results of the oxidisation of the nails. This is because if the nails had been
contaminated partially with something that worked as a coating around a nail to
either enhance or discourage the growth of the rust on the surface of each nail. If
contamination were to have occurred, then it would have either given the
contaminated nail an unfair advantage, or the other nails an unfair advantage.

External factors can lead to the inability to correctly complete tasks,

or correctly recall information, especially in an experiment. This can lead to the

misjudgement of what each result means and altering without the intention of doing
so. It can also lead to distraction and un-careful manoeuvres which could then lead
to inaccurately completing a step or steps of the method which could leave the
practical displaying false data.

All of the errors outlined are generally human errors and can be

avoided if precautions are made when executing this experiment.

In conclusion the hypothesis of if an un-galvanised nail is scratched

with sand paper then it will have a greatest loss of mass than a galvanised,

unscratched nail was somewhat supported, with the scratched un-galvanised nail
having more supported set of data than the galvanised unscratched nails data did.

Chemwiki n.d., Balancing Redox Reactions, wiki article, accessed 12 June

2015,
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemi
stry/Balancing_Redox_reactions