The Power of Rust

There are certain things in this world that we cannot avoid. Sleep, for example, sleep is something that we do not have the power to resist, no matter how hard we try. Oxidation is another process that occurs constantly...when we eat, we generate energy through oxidation...and that is why we must breathe, because oxygen is required for oxidative metabolism. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, and it is always paired with its closest friend, reduction, the gain of electrons. One molecule must be oxidized in order for another molecule to be reduced. It is rare that I will ever use the word "must"...I don't speak in absolutes. I tend to err on the side of caution and hedge my bets...but not in this case. If one molecule is to lose electrons, those electrons MUST go somewhere, and their only option is to go to another atom.

Metabolic oxidation and reduction reactions are essential for producing high levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a high energy molecule...did I say "a high energy molecule?"...I meant "the high energy molecule." Sorry. ATP is the man (or woman). It is used in most anabolic activities our cells can think of, those processes in which cells build things. "Hmmmm....I think I want to make a protein today," it says. Well, proteins don't just grow on trees, you know. The cell has to pay for the formation of new peptide bonds, energetically speaking. Well, then, you may ask, how does the cell "earn" its ATP? It does this partially through oxidation and reduction. There is a change in energy that occurs when a molecule gives up an electron. Sometimes moving an electron from one atom to another is extremely energetically favorable, which produces energy that can potentially be used in other ways. If losing an electron is energetically favorable AND if the cell is very clever (which it is) it can store that energy in a more useful form, which it ultimately does as ATP. Without oxidative metabolism, it would probably take me about four minutes and one second to jog the last mile of a marathon...and my heart rate might even reach 60 bpm. So yeah, you could say oxidation is pretty important.

Prehistoric cavemen (and women) were notoriously afraid of fire (another oxidation/reduction reaction)?  This fear is well-founded because uncontrolled oxidation (and reduction) can be dangerous, not only in the case of fire, but also in the case of rust.  Rust is the product of the oxidation of iron. Whereas iron is strong, rust is not. Unfortunately, many structures were built with iron because, in its original state, iron IS sturdy. After years of exposure to water and salt, oxidized iron, rust, replaces the sturdy iron, with a brittle, yet colorful material, which is more visually appealing than it is strong. According to this useful website: corrosioncost.com, rust costs the US about 276 billion dollars per year.

Respect oxidation. It created you, and it will destroy you. And as we have seen above, it is necessary and 100% unavoidable. It is part of aging, part of growing up, and part of life. And while I must now go to sleep, I leave you with a reminder from Neil Young, that rust never does: