Ok.... simple science experiment:

Put a standard nail in a glass of Coke-Cola. Will the water make it rust? Or will the acid stop it from rusting?
Will the cola remove rust from a rusty nail or will it rust more?

This was done on mythbusters. Coke tends to dissolve organics. I believe they put some pennies in coke and it cleaned them, but I'm not 100%. I don't think it would cause any additional corrosion, not after a short period anyway.

Yeah, I seen that show. I was wondering about the oxidation issue and iron. I would think the nail wouldn't rust, at least right away.

J.

Any sort of corrosion due to the water will be taken away by the acid until the phosphorus is depleted.

The nail won't "rust", however Coke is an acidic mixture so will corrode the nail. Rust is iron oxide, since coke is a mixture of carbonic and phosphoric acids, you will get iron phosphate or iron carbonate, both acids will dissolve iron oxide.

Thanks for the info!
J.

quote Originally posted by Old Lar: The nail won't "rust", however Coke is an acidic mixture so will corrode the nail. Rust is iron oxide, since coke is a mixture of carbonic and phosphoric acids, you will get iron phosphate or iron carbonate, both acids will dissolve iron oxide.

I guess what we need to come to terms on is what the OP had in mind. Does he mean rust as in Fe2O3, or the mixture eating the material away as you point out.

Hmmm...note to oneself..never drink coke when I'm eating nails..
Nick

rust.... like on the fiero's space frame (michigan cars).

J.

Rust. Big time. A Co-Worker of mine built a Coke bottling plant. He had samples of concentrated Coke syrup and said it was extremely corrosive. Had to use special stainless steel everywhere the syrup was touched.