billb wrote:

> So if you take iron and let it rust it goes like this 2 Fe
>
>>+ O2 -> 2 FeO the iron lost two of its electrons and has oxidized to
>>the Fe2+ state. Now if you heat that rust with hydrogen gas H2 you can
>>REDUCE the oxidation number of the iron back to 0 and you get the iron
>>metal back and water FeO + H2 -> Fe + H2O. That is reduction.
>>
>
> Well now I understand it.
>
> I had that back in chemistry and i think when i was told that oxidation
> takes electrons away and reduction didn't, that made no sense so I made no
> effort to understand it.
>
> Been one of my lifelong problems, if it doesn't make sense on the surface, I
> skip it.
>
> So, if I get some hydrogen gas I can turn a rusty old pinball part back into
> its former self?? This I wanna see.
>

The rust would go back to being iron, though the surface will never be
as smooth as before.

With wine it's not so simple... the heat would change the flavor big
time; nevva be anything like its former self.