rust formation of 4 metals in 4 liquids

[lynnazuma]

I am working on my science fair project - the formation of rust on 4 objects - safety pin, nail, piece of tin, and 1/2 chain link - in 4 liquids - water, salt water, bleach water and vinegar water. the rust formed the fastest in bleach water, then normal water, and then salt water. i don't see any rust in the vinegar water after 14 days. i don't know why not. can you help me explain this, please.
thanks.
miles - 5th grade

[kgudger]

Hello and welcome to the forums

I don't know why you saw the results you did, but it sounds like you might have only used one item for each experiment. If so, this could just be experimental error or variability. You will have better results if you try more objects - at least 10 per experiment.

Keith

[lynnazuma]

Thanks for the response.

[bradleyshanrock-solberg]

The likely reason why vinegar water did not produce rust is...vinegar is used to remove rust. It's a common trick. The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with rust and changes it into Iron Acetate, which is water soluble (that means the rust turns into something that can dissolve in water, just like sugar or salt)

Any rust that formed likely dissolved instantly in that kind of environment.