Introduction
Have you ever left your bicycle out in the rain and noticed reddish-brown flakes on it after a few days? That’s rust! But why does rusting happen? And more importantly — why is it such a big deal in your Class 10 Chemistry syllabus? Let’s explore!
What is Rusting?
Rusting is the process where iron reacts with oxygen and water to form iron oxide (Fe₂O₃·xH₂O). This reddish-brown flaky substance weakens the metal and causes billions in damages globally every year.
Rusting Equation:
Iron (Fe) + Oxygen (O₂) + Water (H₂O) → Hydrated Iron(III) Oxide (Rust)Why Does It Matter?Rusting is a real-life application of redox reactions and environmental chemistry.
You’ll need to know this for:• Board exams (CBSE & ICSE)• NEET foundation• IIT-JEE base building
Fun Analogy:
Think of iron as a juicy apple🍎.When you bite and leave it out in air, it turns brown — it oxidizes! Similarly, iron gets "bruised" by air and water, turning into rust.
How to Prevent Rusting:
• Painting/Coating
• Galvanization (zinc coating)
• Oil/Grease
• Alloying (stainless steel)
Cool Science Fact:
The Eiffel Tower is repainted every 7 years to prevent rust. That’s 60 tonnes of paint each time!
Exam Tip:
Don’t just mug up the equation — understand the process and you can answer HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) questions too.
Tags: Class 10 Chemistry Rusting, Prevention of Rust, Why Rust Happens, Iron Oxidation CBSE, ICSE Chemistry Class 10, Corrosion Science Class 10