My Science School

Why does my breath ‘steam’ in cold weather?

               When water boils the steam it produces is not visible while the water remains at boiling point. As the steam cools it forms tiny droplets of water, making it look cloudy. This is called water vapour, which is what you see when your breath ‘steams’ in very cold weather. Explorers in the Arctic and Antarctic find that water vapour condenses and freezes to form ice around their nostrils and mouth.

What happens when iron rusts?

               The reddish powdery rust that forms on unprotected iron and steel is the result of a process called oxidation. It takes place when the metal reacts with oxygen from the air and water. Both air and water are needed for rusting to take place. This form of rusting eats into the metal until it collapses into scales and dust of iron oxide.

               When aluminium is cut it oxidizes very quickly, but the newly formed layer of aluminium oxide prevents exposure of the metal to more oxygen. The aluminium oxide stops the process of oxidation, so the metal remains bright and shiny.

Pictures credit: google