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Rusting is a chemical process that changed the strength and integrity of objects made of iron or iron alloys. Which of the following statements correctly describes the rusting process below?


4 Fe(s) + 3O2 (g) 2 Fe2O3 (s)


Iron is reduced to iron ions in this reaction.


The oxidizing agent in this reaction is iron metal.


Iron oxide is the reducing agent in this reaction.


Oxygen was reduced over the course of this reaction.

Verified Answer :

Among the choices provided, the statement that correctly describes the rusting process below is that "Oxygen was reduced over the course of this reaction" as  iron can't be the oxidizing agent, because it is the one being oxidized.

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Answer : The correct option is, Oxygen was reduced over the course of this reaction.

Explanation :

Iron rusting : A chemical process in which the an iron nail react with water and oxygen to give iron oxide as a product. Rusting of iron is an oxidation-reduction reaction in which iron losses electrons to oxygen atom.

Oxidation reaction : A substance looses its electrons. In this oxidation state increases.

Reduction reaction : A substance gains electrons. In this oxidation state decreases.

The balanced chemical reaction for rusting of irons is,

\(4Fe(s)+3O_2(g)\rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3(s)\)

Half reactions of oxidation and reduction are :

Oxidation : \(Fe(s)\rightarrow Fe^{3+}+3e^-\)

Reduction : \(\frac{1}{2}O_2+2e^-\rightarrow O^{2-}\)

From this reaction we conclude that the electrons are getting transferred from iron to oxygen.  That means in this reaction, oxygen is an oxidizing agent and iron is a reducing agent.

Hence, the correct option is, Oxygen was reduced over the course of this reaction.

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