Nails made of iron?

[Prima]

It's time to replace my collection of "iron" nails that have rusted over the years. However, most nails are made of steel mixed with some carbon, apparently. What do you all use as iron samples? Is there something more authentic but just as easy to source?

[RosalieL]

I went to an independent hardware store a couple of years ago. It may have changed since then, but the guy serving said I needed the internal, non-galvanised nails. I don't know if they are iron or not (you've got me wondering), but they do the job!

[bigmack]

Agree with Rosalie . Bunnings sell them as “bright” nails .

They are Magnetic , they rust , they work in galvanic cell setups …..just like an Iron nail should . And thats about all we at a School would care about .

https://www.bunnings.com.au/paslode-50- ... gLTCfD_BwE

IMG_2339.jpeg

[Anna Z]

Beat me to it... yes use BRIGHT NAILS.

[phillip]

I some iron wire, supplied by H B Selby when they were in North Ryde. 1 oz! Anyone hazard a guess as to how old it is?? Amazing what you find at a University!

[Prima]

I some iron wire, supplied by H B Selby when they were in North Ryde. 1 oz! Anyone hazard a guess as to how old it is?? Amazing what you find at a University!

Sounds like quite a collectable!
Thanks for all your answers - confirming I don't have to spend a lot of money!

[Labbie]

Worth remembering labbies Iron 11 Sulfate once made up does start to go to Iron111. PUT A NEW IRON NAIL IN THE SOLUTION, lAST'S ABOUT 2 DAYS THEN.

[bigmack]

Worth remembering labbies Iron 11 Sulfate once made up does start to go to Iron111. PUT A NEW IRON NAIL IN THE SOLUTION, lAST'S ABOUT 2 DAYS THEN.

Funny you just mentioned that Labbie .
I've read that here a few times, so a few weeks ago , I had to make some up so I thought I'd try the nail trick . well the next day I come into the prep-room to see a browny scunge down where the nails were and some crusty orange stuff floating on top . The rest was still mostly aqua .I had top syphon off the clearish liquid and filter it to save it .

I had acidified this with H₂SO₄

Are you not to do both IE acidify and add nails

[Labbie]

I did both Acidify add nails, worked great. Was it a new nail??

[bigmack]

I did both Acidify add nails, worked great. Was it a new nail??

Yes , and totally free from any rust

[Labbie]

That's strange indeed.

[Pm706Narrogin]

Coincidentally we'd just started the rusting nail prac with the bright nails when this was first posted.

Feedback after a week is the bright nails work but slower than normal. The old nails would visibly rust within 24 hours in some cases. These ones were set up on Tuesday and it took until this morning for some of them to visibly rust.

The nail in HCl also ended up rusting the most which isn't supposed to happen. Our Chem teacher suspects they're lightly galvanised on the outside and it takes time to break this layer down. The HCl rusted the most purely because the acid broke down the galvanised layer quicker and allowed more time for rust to develop.

Plan for next year is to give the nails a quick acid bath to see if this can break through the outer layer and make them rust like they should.