The process of applying a zinc coating to ferrous metal is called

• A. Zinc plating
• B. Galvanizing
• C. Anodizing
• D. Tin plating

Answer: (B)

Galvanizing is the process of applying zinc to iron or steel to protect it from corrosion. This is usually done by hot-dip methods where the ferrous metal is dipped into molten zinc, creating a thick, durable coating that bonds metallurgically to the surface. Zinc protects the underlying metal two ways: it acts as a barrier to moisture and air, and it sacrificially corrodes in preference to the iron, so even if the coating is scratched, the exposed iron is still protected by the surrounding zinc.

Zinc plating, by contrast, is an electroplating process that deposits a much thinner zinc layer for lighter protection or decorative purposes, not the heavy-duty outdoor protection galvanizing provides. Anodizing creates an oxide layer on aluminum (not ferrous metals), enhancing hardness and corrosion resistance. Tin plating coats with tin for different applications, such as tins and food cans, and is not the zinc coating used for ferrous metals.