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Subject:Rust Demons VII
From:ed donnen
Date:Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:23:44 -0400

Rust Demons VII- Know your enemy

The more I look, the more rust I find.  This project is a bit daunting.  But
then I remembered, "How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time." I
cleaned out my cargo bay and got about a pound of rust flakes.   My question
is- what is the equivalent weight of real metal that created a pound of
rust?

Now we all remember from school that Iron is Fe #26, 55.8 with +2 and +3
oxidation states. (I think this means it can make a double or a triple bond)
Oxygen is #8, 15.999 with an oxidation state of -2 (Makes a double bond).  FeO,
double bond to double bond, would therefore weigh 71.8/55.8 or 1.29 times
the weight of the Fe alone.  Fe2O3, triple bonds on the Iron, would weigh
55.8 X 2 + 15.999 X 3 or 159.6/111.6 or 1.43 times the weight of the Fe
alone.  Right?

Although many of you are probably ready to refute this allegation, I
really don't know what the above means to the average owner lying on the
ground covered with rust, dust, oil and dirt.  Yeah, I'm talking about YOU.

So, knowing the curb weight of a 91 Doka is 3,025lb , what would the total
changed weight be in rust in my driveway?  Inquiring minds want to know?
Ed- eating the Rust Elephant one bite at a time
PS- If you don't completely clean your POR15 can top it will weld itself to
the can before you can use it again.  Honest.

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