To protect steel and iron from rusting, a thin layer of which one of t

To protect steel and iron from rusting, a thin layer of which one of the following metals is applied ?

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Magnesium

Zinc

Aluminium

Lead

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2021

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Rusting is the process of oxidation of iron, forming hydrated iron(III) oxide. To protect iron and steel from rusting, a protective layer of another metal is applied. Zinc is commonly used for this purpose through a process called galvanization. Zinc is more reactive than iron, and it preferentially corrodes, acting as a sacrificial layer to protect the underlying iron or steel even if the coating is scratched.

Galvanization, the process of coating iron or steel with a thin layer of zinc, is a widely used method to prevent rusting. Zinc acts as a barrier and also provides sacrificial protection (cathodic protection) because it is more electrochemically active than iron.

Other methods to prevent rusting include painting, oiling, greasing, chrome plating, tin plating, and alloying (like making stainless steel). Aluminium is also more reactive than iron and forms a protective oxide layer, but galvanization with zinc is the most common method among the options listed for general anti-rust protection of steel and iron.

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