The correct answer is (a), (b) and (c)
Concept:-
- Chemical Reactions: Understanding that rusting is a chemical process where reactants (iron and oxygen) form a product (iron oxide).
- Thermodynamics: Recognizing rusting as an exothermic reaction, one that releases energy, highlights the importance of energy considerations in chemical reactions.
- Environmental Conditions: Knowing that certain reactions, like rusting, can happen under specific environmental conditions, such as the availability of water and suitable temperature.
- Reversibility of Reactions: Identifying whether a chemical reaction is reversible or not is key to understanding the permanence of the reaction's products and the feasibility of recovering the reactants.
Explanation:-
Rusting is a common chemical reaction where iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water or moisture. This process leads to the formation of iron oxide (rust).
Nature of the Reaction (a): The statement that rusting involves a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen is true. The presence of water acts as a catalyst, accelerating the process. The chemical equation for rusting can be simplified as:
(4Fe + 3O2 + 6H2O→ 4Fe(OH)3),
which upon dehydrating gives iron oxide, or rust.
Exothermic Reaction (b): Rusting is an exothermic reaction. Although the amount of heat released during the reaction is relatively low, it indeed releases energy to the surrounding environment, confirming that it is exothermic.
Room Temperature Reaction (c): Rusting can, and commonly does, occur at room temperature. The presence of moisture (water) and oxygen in the air at room temperature is sufficient to initiate and sustain the rusting process.
Reversibility (d): Rusting is not a reversible reaction under normal conditions. Once iron has oxidized to form rust, converting it back to pure iron requires a chemical process that involves reduction, typically not occurring spontaneously in nature.
Conclusion:-
The statements (a) It involves a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen, (b) It is an exothermic reaction, and (c) It can take place at room temperature, are all true regarding the rusting of iron.
The statement (d) It is a reversible reaction, is false since rusting does not easily reverse back to iron and oxygen under normal conditions.
Therefore, the correct answer is (a), (b) and (c)