What's a quick way to rust an iron nail?

Question

I need it for a project and I have 3 days to do it? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

try a little vinegar on the and leave them over night

wet them slightly each time you walk past

metal oxidizes mostly in air not submerged in water the acid will take off any Grease or flux coating they may have acquired

Answer 2

Soak the nail in a strong chlorine bleach solution.

Answer 3

yes I agree,  you should pee on it.

Answer 4

put it in a cup of cold water exposed in cold air...

Answer 5

water

Answer 6

Keep it in a cup of vinegar.

Answer 7

good ol' COKE-A-COLA best way to rot anything

Answer 8

put it in water

Answer 9

Hi. Try oxygenated water made with a fish tank pump and aerator.

Answer 10

The project can be easily researched, it falls under 'oxidation and reduction' Search it in an engine. It is quite a complicated experiment. It is inclusive of electrical usage, acids and bases, as well as anions and ions. I have not done chemistry in like three years so i hope this rings a bell

Answer 11

metals ( many) react with oxygen ( slowest), water ( faster) and acid...fastest....this is why many people are suggesting you put it in an acid ( eg lemon juice, vinegar, coke, battery acid).....the strongest acid will rust it faster i guess...

I personally thought that rusting was the oxidation of the iron eg iron + oxygen --> iron oxide ( rust) ....I know salt acts as a catalyst making the reaction go faster....so aerated water ( high in oxygen), with salt and maybe adding a metal which is lower than iron on the metal acitivity series say copper...add copper to the solution, maybe even try wrapping it around the nail to see if this makes a difference. Hot water should act faster than cold water so a warm environment should do it as well.

Answer 12

Perhaps coka-cola/pepsi can help you.

Answer 13

fish tank airator and bowl of hot water

Answer 14

put in water and let it dry somehow.

Answer 15

ask the romans?

Answer 16

water vapor

Answer 17

ferrous metals like iron and steel are rapidly oxidised by bleach

Answer 18

I'm not 100% sure, but I think putting it in a Cola drink will do the job.

Answer 19

Well I would say the fastest to rust the iron nail would be to put it in vinegar/saltwater. If you apply a solution of half Hydrogen Peroxide, half Vinegar and a pinch of Salt you should get a uniform thick layer of rust in about 5 min. Heating the iron will make the reaction occur faster. In order to make it stay you need to apply a finish.

Hope this helps!

~Brandon

Answer 20

maybe soak it in water overnight

Answer 21

put some acid water on, it will become FeO more quicker

Answer 22

put the nail in to pure water solution without any additives.Time to time expose that to air since air is a catalyst. You would have the nail rusted within 12 hours. OR

keep the nail open to the atmosphereexposing it to water vapor.this may take a bit time

Answer 23

Put it in salt water.

Answer 24

Try putting it in a glass with some lemom juice

Answer 25

battery acid

edit: now with everyones suggestions, try one of each

Answer 26

lemon drops... ?