Is rust an alloy?

Question

If not, is it a compound (or are they the same thing)?

Answer 1

An alloy is a mix of two or more metals. Rust is also known as iron oxide, which is iron and oxygen. Since oxygen isn't a metal, it can't be an alloy. It is a compound, though.

Answer 2

In a word, no.

An alloy is a substance that is metallic in nature, and which consists of two or more components. The major component must be a metal, but the other components can be either metals or nonmetals.

There are several kinds of alloys: Substitutional alloys generally consist of two or more elements, which are all metals. An example is brass (copper and zinc). Interstitial alloys consist mainly of a metal with a small amount of a nonmetal. An example is steel (iron, with a small amount of carbon). Alloys can contain compounds, but are primarily metal.

Rust is not an alloy. It is a compound of iron, in which there is no free iron.

Answer 3

To add to previous answers... There are alloys which are mixtures of metallic elements and non-metals so one could say that rust is an alloy of Fe and O but that is a stretch of the typical usage of the word. Rust may not be specific enough. There are 3 common Fe-O compounds, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and FeO. One could say that, for example, rust is an alloy of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4. There are also alloys of two or more different metallic elements that are compounds.

Your friendly neighborhood metallurgist.

Answer 4

rust is a compound but it is not an alloy. an alloy is a mixture and a mixture is not a compound. an alloy is a mixture that man makes on purpose to get an improvement. you may as well read this webpage because im quoting it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloy
rust happens when a chemical bond forms between oxygen and a metal froming a new thing, rust, which is neither metal nor oxygen.

Answer 5

No. Rust is a product of oxidation. Iron oxide.