Experiment Observations

Initially HNO3, H2SO4 and HCL were colorless when the experiment began. We put two nails in
the beakers filled with acids. We used:

1. Long Iron nail(slightly rusted)

2. Steel nail

HNO3

First, we measured the weight, density and cross-sectional area of each substance used in
experiment before inserting in the beaker.

IRON

Area 0.5321 in2

density 7.86 g/cc

Initial Final Weight Elapsed

Obs no. Weight Weight Loss t(days) t(hr.) time CR(my)
1 1476 1202 274 10 240 240 145.7689
2 1202 856 346 8 192 432 230.0914
3 856 597 259 7 168 600 196.8412
4 597 520 77 8 192 792 51.2053
5 520 503 17 7 168 960 12.92008
6 503 489 14 9 216 1176 8.275605
 CORROSION OF IRON IN HNO3
250

200
CORROSION RATE

150
(mpy)

100

50

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Exposed time (hr)

STEEL

Area 0.42313 in2

density 7.7 g/cc

Initial Final Weight Elapsed

Obs no. Weight Weight Loss t(days) t(hr.) time CR(mpy)
1 2370 2363 7 10 240 240 4.780392
2 2363 2357 6 8 192 432 5.121849
3 2357 2352 5 7 168 600 4.877951
4 2352 2345 7 8 192 792 5.97549
5 2345 2339 6 7 168 960 5.853541
6 2339 2332 7 9 216 1176 5.311547
 CORROSION OF STAINLESS STEEL IN HNO3
7

CORROSION RATE 5
(mpy) 4

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Exposed time (hr)

When the nail was placed the second time after weighing, a reaction was seen. Red fumes of
NO2 were released after the reaction of steel(iron) and HNO3. The acid's color and the
color of the beaker was affected in the process.

When we insert two nails (iron and steel) and a copper wire in the beaker, a vigorous reaction
was observed along with liberation of brown fumes due to the decomposition of HNO3 as shown
below

HNO3 4NO2+2H2O+O2

Brown Fumes source

Then we left the HNO3 solution with the substances for 15 days to

The substances were taken out of the beakers with care and dried via cloth then the weight,
density; area and the corrosion rate were measured.

It was observed that weight loss occurred in the substances and color was slightly yellowish.
Corrosion rate was increased.
Hydrochloric Acid:
Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive strong mineral acid with many industrial uses. Hydrochloric
acid (HCl) is a colorless, highly irritating solution in water when it reacts with an organic base to
form a hydrochloride. Hydrochloric acid is a hydronium ion, a salt of H3O + and chloride ions. It
is usually prepared by treating HCl with water. The physical properties of hydrochloric acid,
such as boiling point and melting point, density and pH, depend on the concentration or molarity
of HCl in the aqueous solution. They range from very low concentrations of water near 0% HCl
to fuming hydrochloric acid values of over 40% HCl.

Observations:
Iron Nail:
Hydrochloric acid has ability to dissolve iron and a more concentrated solution can dissolve it
much swiftly. In the first step we observe hydrogen gas liberation. HCL can attack metal and can
dissolve it. HCL dissolves rust faster than it dissolves metal. But after acid dipping the metal is
very prone to flash rusting and many metals rust terribly when introduced to HCL.

HCL + 2Fe FeCl2 + H2

HCL
IRON

Area 0.5321 in2

density 7.86 g/cc

Initial Final Weight Elapsed

Obs no. Weight Weight Loss t(days) t(hr.) time CR(mpy)
1 1376 1365 11 10 240 240 5.852035
2 1365 1350 15 8 192 432 9.975059
3 1350 1297 53 7 168 600 40.28024
4 1297 1216 81 8 192 792 53.86532
5 1216 1105 111 7 168 960 84.3605
6 1105 943 162 9 216 1176 95.76057
 Corrosion of Iron in HCL
120

100
CORROSION RATE
(mpy) 80

60

40

20

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Exposure time (hr)

Stainless Steel: Hydrochloric acid is considered as reducing acid and lacks the oxidizing
properties that stainless steel need to maintain their corrosion resistant surface passive film. In
our experiment we observed a weight loss and i.e. increase in corrosion rate. We also used
Vernier caliper to measure the area of the stainless steel to get the actual mass loss and corrosion
on the stainless steel.
Area 0.42313 in2
density 7.7 g/cc

HCL
Initial Final Weight Elapsed
Obs no. Weight Weight Loss t(days) t(hr) time CR(mpy)
1 2451 2443 8 10 240 240 5.463305
2 2443 2435 8 8 192 432 6.829131
3 2435 2429 6 7 168 600 5.853541
4 2429 2423 6 8 192 792 5.121849
5 2423 2418 5 7 168 960 4.877951
6 2418 2412 6 9 216 1176 4.552754
 Corrosion of Stainless Steel in HCL
8
7

CORROSION RATE 6
(mpy) 5
4
3
2
1
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Exposure time (hr)

H2SO4
IRON
When the iron nail was dipped in the H2SO4 after weighing, a cloud like structure was formed around
it.

Area 0.5321 in2

density 7.86 g/cc

Initial Final Weight Elapsed

Obs no. Weight Weight Loss t(days) t(hr) time CR(mpy)
1 1358 1343 15 10 240 240 7.980047
2 1343 1326 17 8 192 432 11.30507
3 1326 1309 17 7 168 600 12.92008
4 1309 1289 20 8 192 792 13.30008
5 1289 1270 19 7 168 960 14.44009
6 1270 1245 25 9 216 1176 14.77787
 Corrosion of Iron in H2SO4
16
14

CORROSION RATE 12

(mpy) 10
8
6
4
2
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Exposure time (hr)

STEEL

Area 0.42313 in2

density 7.7 g/cc

Initial Final Weight Elapsed

Obs no. Weight Weight Loss t(days) t(hr) time CR(mpy)
1 2358 2352 6 10 240 240 4.097479
2 2352 2347 5 8 192 432 4.268207
3 2347 2342 5 7 168 600 4.877951
4 2342 2336 6 8 192 792 5.121849
5 2336 2331 5 7 168 960 4.877951
6 2331 2324 7 9 216 1176 5.311547
 Corrosion of Stainless Steel in H2SO4
6

CORROSION RATE
5

4
(mpy)
3

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Exposure time (hr)