Question

Explain why: Iron sheets are coated with zinc during galvanization.

Answer 1

Galvanization: Galvanization is the process of protecting iron or steel by coating it with zinc to avoid rusting.

• When Iron $\left(Fe\right)$ reacts with the moist air, brown powder rust is formed.
• This rust damages the iron and in order to prevent it from rusting, they are coated with zinc.
• Zinc is used in this process because it acts as a barrier for preventing corrosive substances from reaching the underlying iron/steel.
• Zinc acts as a sacrificial anode. In case, if the coating got scratched from it, the iron will still be protected by the rust over zinc.
• The zinc always protects its corroding metal.

Hence in order to prevent rusting the iron is coated with Zinc during Galvanization.