Letter 41015

Iron nail question [New Zealand] 

June 6, 2006

Help! I am doing an assignment that means I have to find out the amount of iron in a steel nail (have already removed the galvanised coat with HCl). Can't find anywhere the percentage composition of a nail, and its really frustrating because I'm getting answers ranging from 4 to 7 to 114% (obviously incorrect). Can you Help me?

Thanks,
Sam from dunedin, New Zealand
Year 13 (I am in Form 7, final year in the New Zealand schooling system)

Samantha R
Student - Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

The box that the nails came in will often list what standards the nails comply with, Samantha. If that is the case, then you could work your way back through the standards until you get to the composition of the nails.

Another approach is to look in a metals handbook where it will list the composition of various steels and their typical uses. Thumb through such a handbook until you find a steel that is used for nails.

You haven't sourced your answers of 4 percent, 7 percent, and 114 percent -- but the lower numbers are ludicrous too. It is a mistake to try to use internet forums for authoritative answers instead of just direction. The correct answer will be more like 98 percent; and when you have found that printed in a book, you should cite that as your source. Good luck!

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

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