* Displacement Reaction: Zinc is more reactive than iron. This means it can displace iron from its compound.
* Reaction: The zinc reacts with the ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) to form zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) and iron (Fe).
* Iron Deposition: The iron produced in the reaction is deposited on the surface of the zinc granules, giving the coating its grayish-white color.
The overall reaction can be represented as:
Zn(s) + FeSO₄(aq) → ZnSO₄(aq) + Fe(s)
Key Points:
* The coating is not a true metal coating like electroplating, but rather a layer of iron deposited on the zinc surface.
* The solution will change color from pale green (ferrous sulfate) to colorless (zinc sulfate).
* This experiment demonstrates the concept of the activity series of metals.
