Galvanization is a method of protecting iron from rusting by coating w

Galvanization is a method of protecting iron from rusting by coating with a thin layer of

Gallium
Aluminum
Zinc
Silver
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
Galvanization is a method of protecting iron from rusting by coating it with a thin layer of Zinc.
Galvanization works by providing a barrier coating of zinc to prevent corrosive substances from reaching the underlying iron or steel. More importantly, zinc acts as a sacrificial anode. This means that zinc is more reactive than iron and will corrode preferentially, even if the coating is scratched and the iron is exposed.
Rusting is the corrosion of iron, which occurs when iron reacts with oxygen and water. Zinc protects iron through both barrier protection and sacrificial protection. Other metals like aluminum or silver are not typically used for galvanization of iron; aluminum is sometimes used in different protective coatings (like anodizing for aluminum itself), and silver is too expensive and not suitable for this application.