[SEL] Cleaning rusty engine parts with electrolysis

[Brian Watts]

I have found the simplest way to remember which way the the electrodes go is 
to write it on the shed wall.
Brian and David Watts
Melbourne
Australia
(03)97266147
http://community.webshots.com/user/briwat
briwatt at optusnet.com.au

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob Skinner" <rskinner at rustyiron.com>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2007 4:55 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] Cleaning rusty engine parts with electrolysis


>
> On Jan 11, 2007, at 5:47 PM, Ed stoller wrote:
>
>> I thought Rick had a great simple way for me to remember which lead  goes 
>> where now I am all messed up.
>
>
> Hi Ed,
> Don't feel bad.  I have to stop and think about it every time I play  with 
> elecrolysis -- whether for removing rust or making rust.
>
> If you can remember back to chemistry class, the iron oxide molecule  is 
> locked together because the iron ion has a positive charge and the  oxide 
> ion has a negative charge.  Opposites attract, and it's really  hard to 
> separate the two.
>
> When doing electrolysis, remember that opposites attract, and like 
> charges repel.  If you connect your part to the negative side of your 
> power supply, and your anode to the positive, the oxide ions are  going to 
> be blown off your part and sucked over toward the anode.   The iron ions 
> are not going to want to go anywhere, because they're  positive and 
> they're connected to the negative side of your circuit.
>
> But if you want to CREATE rust on your part, hook your part to the 
> positive side of your power supply and your cathode to the negative. 
> Your part will now attract all the stray oxygen ions over to it,  creating 
> a coating of rust.
>
> I'm sure this is overly simplistic and technically flawed, but it's a 
> good way to look at it so you don't hook up your circuit backwards.
>
> Rob
>
>
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