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Galvanizing and the reactivity of metals


mahela007

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Can you explain why zinc reacts with oxygen more readily than iron because of it's electronic configuration?

EDIT: If you want to check the electronic config of both metals search google for "dynamic periodic table" and follow the first link.

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Whoops... In my rush to make this post I obviously made a typo.. Yeah I meant Zinc is more reactive than Fe


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iron is [Ar] 3d6 4s2

zinc is [Ar] 3d10 4s2

 

you don't need the inner shells for this application so they've been substituted with [Ar] which is the electron configuration of argon.

 

pay particular attention to the 3d orbitals.

 

I'm guessing that since it's the 4s orbitals that take part in reactions, the effects of the shielding of the 3d electrons comes into play. Since the shielding effect of the electrons in zinc is greater it can involve it 4s electron in reaction more easily.

Am I right?

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