@chemteacherphil: Rusting is considered a destructive chemical process, and the rusting of vehicles accounts for $3 billion dollars in related repairs in the US annually! But, that process can actually be used to keep you warm in the winter months! When iron rusts, it combines with oxygen in the air, forming iron (III) oxide, the orange crumbly solid that we know as rust. This process also is exothermic, meaning it releases heat to the environment. So, I decided to use the rusting of steel wool to create a homemade handwarmer! Steel wool works well as it has a large surface area, so it can react rapidly with oxygen in the air to generate heat. #chemistry #chemteacherphil #STEM #STEMTok