What Causes the ‘Rust’ on a Car?

Rust is when a car starts to look like it’s getting old, it turns red and flaky. It happens because the metal inside the car reacts with water and oxygen, kind of like when you leave an apple out too long and it gets all brown and soft. Rust makes cars weak over time, which is why we need to protect them from rain and moisture.

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Examples

  1. A rain-soaked bicycle chain turns orange after sitting outside for days.
  2. A soda can left on a table starts to look like it's bleeding red.
  3. A toy car that was buried in dirt and rain now looks all crumpled.

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Categories: Science · rust· corrosion· chemistry