Do we lose metal forever when it rusts?

Question

If a piece of metal rusts before we can protect it or recycle it, do we lose it forever?

Would a piece of metal just rust away to nothing if just left outside?

What is the chemical change from [insert metal] to rust?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

We mostly do, because we don’t collect or recycle rust or aluminum oxide. We *could*, iron ore is mostly some sort of rust, but nobody does.