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Which metals will be affected by salt water?
by Issey K.
* Hypothesis * Abstract * Materials * Procedure * Results * Conclusion * Bibliography & Links * 
 
Hypothesis 
Tin, copper, and aluminum are going to be affected the most because I see these metals rusted everywhere. Gold and nickel will be the least affected because they cost the most and are high quality. 
 
Abstract 
Purpose: 
 Which metals will be affected by salt water? I chose this experiment because I have been curious about which metals rust and which donąt. Tin, copper, and aluminum are going to be affected the most because I see these metals everywhere. Gold and nickel will be affected the least because they cost the most and are high quality. 

Procedure: 
 First, fill each 600 mL beaker with 300 mL of tap water. Next add the salt to the tap water, and stir with a popsicle until a solution is formed. Then put a metal in each beaker of salt water. Place all the beakers in the same area. Observe and record your results once a day at the same time for five days. 

Conclusion: 
 The copper, brass, nickel, tin, and iron rusted. The salt (acid) ate away at the metals taking off the coating. The gold, stainless steel, and the aluminum were stronger, so the acid did not uncover the cover. If acid rain occurs a lot in your area you might want to cover your house with aluminum or stainless steel. 

 

Materials   
 
1. (8) 600 mL clear glass beakers 
2. 300 mL of 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) of tap water per beaker 
3. 25 mL of Morton Salt per beaker 
4. 8 metals: tin, iron, nickel, copper, brass, gold, stainless steel, aluminum          (all same size) 
5. Popsicle stick
Procedure   

1. Fill each beaker with the same amount of tap water. 
2. Add the salt to the tap water. 
3. Stir the salt and water until a solution is formed with the stick. 
4. Put one metal into each beaker of salt water. 
5. Put the beakers in the same place. 
6. Observe and record results once a day for five days.  
 

Results   

Copper: 
 Day 1: Rust began to form on the outside. 
 Day 2: Rust began to form inside, and more on the outside. 
 Day 3: The water began to turn blue-green. 
 Day 4: The rust turned blue-green. 
 Day 5: The salt made a white ring around the beaker. 

Brass:  
 Day 1: Rust began to form on the outside. 
 Day 2: More rust formed on the outside, and some formed inside. 
 Day 3: The water turned blue-green, and salt settled on the brass. 
 Day 4: A streak of blue-green rust formed on the outside.  
 Day 5: The water evaporated, and the salt made a white ring around the beaker. 

Nickel: 
 Day 1: No change 
 Day 2: Rust formed on the top. 
 Day 3: More rust formed on the top, and the water turned blue-green. 
 Day 4: The blue-green salt settled on the top of the nickel. 
 Day 5: A salt ring formed where the water evaporated. 

Tin: 
 Day 1: No change 
 Day 2: Some rust formed on the top. 
 Day 3: The rust started turning yellow. 
 Day 4: The water turned bright yellow. 
 Day 5: Some salt formed around the top of the beaker where the water was. 

Aluminum: 
 Day 1: No change 
 Day 2: No change 
 Day 3: No change 
 Day 4: No change 
 Day 5: No change 

Stainless steel: 
 Day 1: No change 
 Day 2: No change 
 Day 3: No change 
 Day 4: No change 
 Day 5: No change 
 

Gold: 
 Day 1: No change 
 Day 2: No change 
 Day 3: No change 
 Day 4: No change 
 Day 5: No change 

Iron:  
 Day 1: No change 
 Day 2: Some rust formed. 
 Day 3: More rust formed and the water started turning blue-green. 
 Day 4: Blue-green rust formed, and the water turned blue-green. 
 Day 5: A white salt ring formed around the beaker. 
 

Conclusion 
  
Copper, brass, nickel, tin, and iron all rusted. The water of the copper, brass, nickel, and tin turned blue-green. The water of the tin turned pale yellow. The nickel, tin, and iron rusted at the same pace; the copper and brass rusted at the same pace. The aluminum, gold, and stainless steel did not rust at all. 
 My hypothesis was half right. The tin and copper rusted, and the gold did not rust just as I predicted. The rest was wrong. 
 It is better for your car if the exterior is aluminum, stainless steel, or gold so your car wonąt get rusted by street salt. It is also best if the items in your house exposed to water are aluminum, stainless steel, or gold for longer life.  
 
Bibliography & Links   

1. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge. United States of America: Grolier Inc.,1991
2. Eureka!. United States of America: U.X.L, 1995
3. The New Book of Popular Science. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Inc., 1996
4. Turck, Mary. Acid Rain. New York: Crestwood House, 1990
5. "Acid rain", "Sulfur", "Nitrogen." Websterąs College Dictionary. New York: Random  House Inc., 1996 

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Issey K.
Timber Ridge Magnet School