Running Head: EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER

Effectiveness of Citric Acid, Baking Soda, Coke, and Vinegar as Rust Remover

Ayannah Therese B. Amaro

Leaf Marie Z. Banales

Rey Neil V. Dagoy

Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial Dumaguete Science High School

 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 2

Abstract

The usage of chemical rust removers are common all around the world. Chemical rust removers can damage one’s

health and also our environment. The purpose of the study is about the effectiveness of Coke, Citric Acid, Baking

Soda, and Vinegar as rust remover and to also lessen the usage of chemical rust removers.

The procedure is easy. First, gather all materials that are needed. Second, measure the citric acid (200ml),

baking soda (100g), vinegar (300ml), coco-cola (300ml), & the rusty nails (6g). Third, put the citric acid (200ml),

baking soda (100g), vinegar (300ml), coco-cola (300ml), in the container and mixed them. Fourth, put the rusty

nails (6g) in the container and wait for 24 hours. Fifth, get the rusty nails and clean the nails to see if the rust is

gone and measure how much of grams did the nails lost. Sixth, record your results.

The researchers hope to achieve their goal of succeeding in the experiment so that they can persuade people to

use these cheap ingredients as rust remover in place of expensive chemical rust removers that may harm one’s

health. They also hope that this experiment will be effective and helpful to other people that may consider using

this method to remove rust from different metals.

 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 3

Table of Contents

Title Page………………………………………………………………………………………………………….i

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….ii

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iv

Background of the study………………………………………………………………………………

Statement of the Problem...…………………………………………………………………………...

Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………………..

Scope and Delimitation……………………………………………………...……………………….

Review on Related of Literature…………………………………………………….…………………………….v-vii

Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………………………...….viii

Results and Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………....ix

Findings…...………………………………………………………………………………………….

Analysis of Data………………………………………..…………………………………………….

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………….x

Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………….xi

Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………xii-xiii

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………….xiv
 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 4

Effectiveness of Citric Acid, Baking Soda, Coke, and Vinegar as Rust Remover

Introduction

Background of the Study

Some chemicals are one of the most hazardous objects that people often use. We tend to use hazardous chemicals

that damages our bodies and environment like for example, chemical rust removers. Some chemical rust removers

not just affect our bodies and environment but it can also affect our budgets.

Statement of the Problem

Main Problem: The usage of chemical rust removers are increasing and these chemical rust removers may be

effective but it can damage one’s health and also our environment.

Significance of the Study

This study can help reduce the usage of chemical rust removers. The researchers want to reduce the usage of

chemical rust removers because these removers are hazardous to one’s health and to our environment.

Scope and Delimitation

Our study only researches about the effectiveness of Coke, Citric Acid, Baking Soda, and Vinegar and to check if

these materials really help in removing rust without the help of chemical rust removers.
 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 5

Review of Related Literature

Title: Rust Removal Experiment

Iron oxidation, known as rust formation, causes enormous loss in terms of property damages and associated

economic risks. The brownish top layer is most iron oxide-hydroxide while the deepest black layers possess iron

oxide. The flaky nature of surface rust meditates diffusion of oxygen and water to inner material sections which

can lead to total disintegration of iron mass. As a result, it is desirable to remove rust and protect fresh surface from

oxides.

The common rust removal reagents are mainly based on complex formation of ferric iron with organic and

inorganic acids such as citric acid, oxalic acid and phosphoric acid. In this approach, ferric concentration is

correlated to the mass of rust being dissolved in the presence of different removal agents. This assay is based on a

modification of the 1, 10-phenanthroline assay (Skoog and West, 1979) to enable detection using a 96-well plate

format for higher throughput screening and assessment.

Title: Vinegar as a Rust Remover

Results of study show U.S. had spent total $276 billion, approximately 3.1% of the nation’s gross domestic

product for corrosion direct cost. Therefore, this study is to find optional of artificial way to remove rusting from

any other metal. For the research, the researchers choose vinegar as a substance that has the potential to remove the

rust stain from metal due to presence of acid in its content. Vinegar is easy to be obtained and usually use as

household materials.

The researchers choose three different types of vinegar brands and analysed its percentage by mass of acetic acid.

These maybe due to the limitation of the research because the researcher assumed that only acetic acid in vinegar

reacts with the iron oxide. Still, the research was able to prove that vinegar can act as a potential rust remover but

in low degree because acetic acid is weak acid.

 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 6

Title: Cleaning with Coca-Cola

In the world of green cleaning many applications for cola are publicized, including cleaning stains in toilet bowl,

removing rust, especially from chrome on the bumpers of motorcycles and cars, and taking out grease from clothes.

Why? It is because Coca-Cola has a low pH. Similarly, many cleaners are acidic and the average pH of Coca-Cola

and other colas is 3.4. Carbonation combined with the acid can dissolve the metal oxides and remove tarnish from

copper, brass and other metal alloys. Coca-Cola has different kinds of acids, citric acid, phosphoric acid and

carbonic acid. Citric acid is known to remove the stains, phosphoric acid is commonly used for rust removal and

carbonic acid dissolves limestone and may break down some of the mineral build-up since the acids in the cola

does the cleaning.

Title: Modern Chemistry

Acids are substances that react with water to form hydronium ions, and when mixed with other substances, it

causes different reactions. Acids as a group share common structural characteristics. When ionized in water, their

molecules contribute one or more hydrogen ions to the solution. They are a common set of properties to varying

degrees. All acids contain hydrogen in reaction with certain materials.

Title: Calamansi, Lemon Grass Extracts and Organic Vinegar: Alternative Solution

The purpose of this experimental research was to determine the effectiveness of calamansi (Citrofortunella

microcarpa Bunge), lemon grass (Andropogon citratus DC Stapf) and vinegar (acetic acid) as alternative solution

as cleaning agent against rust (ferric oxide). The idea is to find the mean weight (ḡ) of rust exposed to different

organic materials such as calamansi, lemon grass, vinegar and mixtures of two organic materials after 24 hours of

exposure in various concentrations.

 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 7

Title: Removing Rust: Chemical Methods

The simplest form of chemical rust remover is household vinegar which is usually about 5% acetic acid. Acetic

acid is also known as ethanoic acid, with the formula CH3CO2H. Vinegar will leave a grey finish that is a type of

rust crystal that adds a small degree of rust resistance.

 EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 8

Methodology

Materials/Equipment:

 Citric Acid (200ml)

 Baking Soda (100g)

 Vinegar (300ml)

 Coca-Cola (300ml)

 10 Rusty Nails

 1 Container

General Procedure:

First, gather all materials that are needed. Second, measure the citric acid (200ml), baking soda (100g),

vinegar (300ml), coco-cola (300ml), & the rusty nails (6g). Third, put the citric acid (200ml), baking soda

(100g), vinegar (300ml), coco-cola (300ml), in the container and mixed them. Fourth, put the rusty nails

(6g) in the container and wait for 24 hours. Fifth, get the rusty nails and clean the nails to see if the rust is

gone and measure how much of grams did the nails lost. Sixth, record your results.
EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 9

Results and Discussion

EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 10

Conclusion

During the first experiment, the researchers put a generous amount of each of the ingredients mentioned in this

research. The researchers left rusty nails and other small metals inside the mixture and then left it for about 3-4

hours to see if the mixture would remove the rust. Unfortunately, when they took it out, only stains of the rust

disappeared, and the hardened rust remained on the metal. However, in the second experiment, they added more of

the ingredients and increased the measurement of each. Using different rusty metals to put in the mixture, the

researchers left it for about 1 day or 24 hours. The results were better compared to the first experiment. Although

not all of it, most of the hardened rust has come off along with the stains. If you have the patience to leave it longer

than 24 hours, all of the rust may come off completely. In conclusion, the rust remover using coke, vinegar, baking

soda, and citric acid is effective, however it takes a long time for the rust to come off.
EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 11

Recommendations

The researchers would like to recommend their product instead of using chemical rust removers because it is

cheaper, safer to one’s health and the environment. Their product is effective and efficient

. The researchers would also like to recommend their product because they want to achieve their goal about

reducing the usage of chemical rust removers.

EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 12

Appendix
EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 13
EFFICACY OF RUST REMOVER 14

Bibliography

Ahmadi, Mahmod, Pfeifer, Blaine, A. bio-protocol

Dougherty, Rae Ann, Green Cleaning Products, LLC

Metcaffe, Clark H., Williams, John E., Modern Chemistry, pp.313

http://www.bio-protocol.org/e1776

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/biology/potential-of-vinegar-as-rust-stain-remover-biology-essay.php

https://greencleaningproductsllc.com/mythbuster-science-of-cleaning-cleaning-with-coca-cola-effective-green-

cleaning-products/

https://www.jblfmu.edu.ph/Calamansi%20%28Citrofortunella%20Microcarpa%20Bunge%29%20and%20Lemon

%20Grass%20%28Andropogon%20Citratus%20Dc%20Stapf%29%20Extracts%20And%20Organic%20Vinegar

%20%28Acetic%20Acid%29%3A%20Alternative%20Solution%20as%20Cleaning%20Agent%20Against

%20Rust%20%28Ferric%20Oxide%29