Why does oxygen in the air react with water and cause rust like in vehicles but vehicles in a hot dry desert it slows down the oxidation.
What is it about the oxygen in the air that react with water that causes rust like in vehicles? Why is water so bad?
What is it about water and oxygen in the air that react?
In: 2
Rust forms in the presence of *both* oxygen and water. Water acts as the catalyst of the iron oxidation reaction. Regular air normally contains some humidity, so these airborne water molecules may cause some rust too, unless the air is really dry. Water also has some oxygen from the air dissolved in it, so iron in water will rust too, because both the required components are present (excluding some deep underwater locations that are deprived of dissolved oxygen).
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