Rusting of iron can be prevented by methods like painting, oiling, greasing, galvanising, chrome plating, anodising, or making alloys. Galvanisation protects iron even if the zinc coating is broken because zinc acts as a sacrificial anode, corroding instead of iron.
How can rusting of iron be prevented, and why does galvanisation protect the iron even if the zinc coating is broken?
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Rusting of iron can be prevented through various methods, including applying protective coatings like paint, using corrosion-resistant alloys, or employing sacrificial protection, as seen in galvanization. Galvanization involves coating iron with a layer of zinc. Even if the zinc coating is scratched or broken, it protects the iron through sacrificial protection. Zinc, being more reactive than iron, corrodes preferentially, forming zinc oxide instead of iron oxide. This sacrificial action prevents the underlying iron from rusting. The zinc coating effectively serves as a barrier, and the sacrificial nature ensures continuous protection, making galvanized iron more resistant to corrosion.