Chapter 15.4, Problem 15.40QAP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

To explain why formation of rust not takes place when zinc coating on an iron can is scratched.

Concept Introduction:

The activity series of element tells about the reactivity of elements in any reaction. The elements placed above in the activity series are more reactive than the elements placed below in the activity series.

In a chemical reaction, oxidation is defined as loss of electron/s and reduction is defined as gain of electron/s.

When a species loss electron/s, its oxidation state increases thus, increase in oxidation state is oxidation similarly, when a species gains electron/s, its oxidation state decreases thus, decrease in oxidation state is reduction.