In: Chemistry
A piece of magnesium can be attached to the iron hull of a boat to prevent it from rusting.
Why is the magnesium called a sacrificial metal?
How does the Mg keep the iron hull from rusting?
Which can be thought of as the positive cathode, the Mg or the steel hull? Explain.
Putting a block of Mg on a steel boat hull does not create a battery. Why not?
A piece of magnesium can be attached to the iron hull of a boat to prevent it from rusting.
Why is the magnesium called a sacrificial metal?
A piece of magnesium can be attached to the iron hull of a boat to prevent it from rusting, piece of Magnesium act as an anode undergoes oxidation and get consumed in time. Therefore, here, Magnesium is sacrificed for the protection of Iron hull, so known as a sacrificial metal
How does the Mg keep the iron hull from rusting?
Magnesium is more electropositive than Iron, therefore, when magnesium is attached to iron, iron ac as cathode and Magnesium act as an anode. This prevents the oxidation(rusting) of iron
Which can be thought of as the positive cathode, the Mg or the steel hull? Explain.
Magnesium is more electropositive than Iron, therefore, iron act as the cathode
Putting a block of Mg on a steel boat hull does not create a battery. Why not?
A battery produces electrical energy because of a chemical reaction. Putting a block of Mg on a steel boat hull does not create a battery, because a battery requires electrolyte for the flow of ions. Also, when the block of Mg is put on steel, the circuit is completed