Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the name of the metallurgical protective process where steel or iron is coated with a thin layer of zinc to prevent corrosion (rusting).
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Corrosion protection methods physically isolate the metal from oxygen and moisture, or use sacrificial protection. Zinc acts as a sacrificial anode.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
• Iron and steel rust when exposed to moist air containing oxygen and water vapor:
\[ 4Fe + 3O_2 + 2xH_2O \to 2Fe_2O_3 \cdot xH_2O \text{ (Rust)} \]
- To prevent this, various barrier methods are used.
• Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron.
• The thin zinc layer acts in two protective ways:
1. Barrier Protection: It physically blocks oxygen and water from reaching the iron underneath.
2. Sacrificial Protection: Since zinc is more reactive than iron, even if the zinc coating is scratched or damaged, the zinc will corrode preferentially (sacrificing itself) to protect the underlying iron.
• Let us analyze the other options:
- (A) Tinning: The process of coating iron with a layer of tin. Tin is less reactive than iron, so if the coating is damaged, the iron underneath rusts even faster.
- (C) Electroplating: A general method of depositing a layer of any metal on another surface using electricity. Galvanization is a specific type of zinc coating, often done by hot-dip galvanizing.
- (D) Anodising: The process of forming a thick oxide layer on aluminum to protect it from corrosion, not steel or iron.
• Thus, the correct name for coating iron with zinc is galvanisation.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The process of coating iron with zinc is called Galvanisation.