30 Part 3

Chapter 12 Corrosion of Metals and their Protection

A. Multiple Choice Questions increase electrical conductivity.

In test tube (3), both oxygen (air) and
1. B. water are present. Therefore, rusting
occurs.
In test tube (2), both oxygen and water are
present. Since there is a smaller amount of
water in test tube than test tube (1), rusting
occurs in test tube (2) at a lower rate than
2. D. A lead block is attached to iron. test tube (1).
3. C. Iron is connected to a zinc block. In test tube (5), there contains oxygen but
4. B. zinc compounds are poisonous no water. The iron nail does not rust.
while tin compounds are not
poisonous. 3. (a) Potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)
5. C. Tin-plating (b) The tip and the head of nail 1 appear
6. D. (2) and (3) only blue since the nail is attached to
7. C True, False copper which is a less reactive metal
8. C False, True than iron. The attachment of a less
reactive metal to iron can speed up
B. Fill in the Blanks rusting.
The tip and the head of nail 2 do not
1. Corrosion, oxygen
appear blue since the nail is attached
2. rusting, rust
to magnesium which is a more
3. Water, oxygen
reactive metal than iron. The
C. Comprehensive Questions attachment of a more reactive metal
to iron can prevent rusting.
1. Presence of soluble salts, presence of The painted part does not appear
acidic pollutants, temperature, sharp blue, but the painted part appears
regions of iron objects, bending or blue. This is because the paint layer
scratching the metal surface, attachment separates iron form air and water,
of less reactive metals thus preventing rusting from
occurring.
2. Rate of corrosion of iron nails: (c) Nail 1. Copper strip is less reactive
(4) > (1) > (3) > (2) > (5) than iron. It speeds up the corrosion
In test tube (4), the iron nail reacts with of iron.
dilute hydrochloric acid faster than with
water. Thus, rusting of the iron nail is the 4. Painting, electroplating, alloying and
fastest. electrical protection (Any three)
In test tube (1), both oxygen (air) and
water are present. Besides, the presence of 5. (a) underground pipe, ship hull
sodium chloride speeds up rusting since (b) wire, paper clip
sodium chloride acts as electrolytes to (c) car bumper, handlebar

Chapter 12 Solutions (EE).doc


(d) car body, bridge, ship and bus stop
sign
(e) car body, steel legs of a pier
6. HKCEE Question
7. (a) Painting
There are many bus stop signs.
Painting is a cheap method to cover
them. Painting can give them
different colours.
(b) Oiling
Locks are movable articles. Oiling
can resist slight abrasion and have a
lubricating function.
(c) Chromium-plating (electroplating)
Handlebars of bicycles should look
attractive. Chromium-plating
separates iron from air and water
effectively. It gives the handlebar a
shiny appearance.
(d) Galvanizing
Rubbish bins should be durable. In
galvanizing, the zinc layer firmly
adheres to the iron body. Even if the
zinc layer is scratched, zinc can still
protect the iron body from rusting.
(e) Plastic coating
Paper clips are cheap items and they
sometimes need different colours.
Plastic coating is a cheap method
and it can give the iron objects
different colours.
8. (a) (i) Painting
Steel railings have a very large
surface area to be protected.
Painting is a cheap method to
cover them. Painting can give
the railings different colours.
(ii) Tin-plating
Tin is non-toxic
(N.B.: compulsory)
Tin-plating gives a firm
protective layer on the iron
object /a fairly good protection.
Chapter 12 31
(b) The zinc layer can separate the iron
from both oxygen and water. Even if
the zinc layer is scratched to expose
the iron metal, zinc can still prevent
the iron object from rusting. This is
because zinc is more reactive than
iron, Water and oxygen react with
zinc instead of iron. The protection
of zinc lasts until all the zinc
corrodes.
9. HKCEE Question
10. (a) It increases the thickness of the
layer of aluminium oxide which can
protect aluminium from further
corrosion.
After anodization, the aluminium
object can be immersed in dyes to
give various attractive colours.
(b) The aluminium object is used as the
anode (or positive electrode) in the
electrolytic cell. A sheet of
aluminium is rolled into a
cylindrical shape and is used as the
cathode (or negative electrode).
Dilute sulphuric acid is used as the
electrolyte.
(c) 4Al(s) + 3O2(g)  2Al2O3(s)
11. HKCEE Question
D. Essay-type Questions
1. Clean two iron nails with sandpaper.
Put the two iron nails in two separate test
tubes.
Place cotton wool at the middle of either
one test tube and then add anhydrous
calcium chloride on it. Stopper the tube
immediately.
Add tap water to third-fourth full in
another test tube.
Leave the two test tubes for 5 days.
Chapter 12 Solutions (EE).doc
32 Part 3

The iron nail in the test tube containing

anhydrous calcium chloride does not rust
while the one in the test tube without
anhydrous calcium chloride rusts.

2. HKCEE Question

Chapter 12 Solutions (EE).doc