Iron Sulfate

[matty.k]

lets say i put some steel wool inside a beaker and throw in some sulfuric acid, obviously a reaction will take place as an acid + metal -> salt + hydrogen gas.
what i want to know is when the steel wool and the sulfuric acid reacts why is the solution a black tar colour. I know steel wool has some impurities but i am not exactly sure what causes the black tar colour.

[happyhappyland]

Hmmm Im not sure but heat is also a byproduct in this reaction which may have caused the black tar colour...

[Edmund]

Corrosion

[matty.k]

Corrosion of the Iron?

[Edmund]

Yes, probably the steel

[matty.k]

oh and is this equation right

FeSO4 + Na2CO3 -> NaSO4 + H2O + CO2

[Edmund]

oh and is this equation right

FeSO4 + Na2CO3 -> NaSO4 + H2O + CO2

What equation is this, it doesn't seem to balance on both sides

[matty.k]

actually nvm wrong reactant it was suppose to be sulfuric acid i got it balanced

[Mao]

No, the black stuff is carbon. Steel wool is cheap material, it's impure, but it is also designed to be strong and stainless. Stainless steel usually contain carbon additives. Carbon solid is black in colour (charcoal), and when carbon embedded in metal lattice is released, it is released as small solid particles suspended in liquid (colloid, not aq).

You didn't think they'd use pure quality steel did you?