Question

In 1973 the wreckage of the Civil War ironclad USS.The monitorwas discovered near Cape Hatteras, NorthCarolina. [The Monitorand the CSS Virginia(formerlythe USS Merrimack) fought the first battle between iron armoredships.] In 1987 investigations were begun to seewhether the ship could be salvaged. Timereported (June22, 1987) that scientists were considering adding sacrificialanodes of zinc to the rapidly corroding metal hull ofthe Monitor.Describe how attaching zinc to the hullwould protect the Monitorfrom further corrosion.

Short answer

The monitor’s hull can be protected by zinc because it is primarily oxidized and prevents the iron of the hull. This is because zinc is easier to oxidize as compared to iron from the above E° oxidation values.

Step-by-step solution

Analyzing the given data

In 1973, a ship was discovered near cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Efforts were made to reinstate the ship. The scientists reportedly tried addingsacrificial anodes of zincto rapidly corroding metal hull of the Monitor considering it will prevent the ship from corrosion.

Describing how attaching zinc to the hull would protect the monitor from further corrosion

The equations and E° oxidation are:

$\begin{array}{l}Fe\left(s\right)\to F{e}^{2+}+2e^{-}(\mathrm{E}°=0.44V)\\ Zn\left(s\right)\to Z{n}^{2+}+2e^{-}(\mathrm{E}°=0.76V)\end{array}$

The monitor’s hull can be protected by zinc because it is primarily oxidized and

prevents the iron of the hull. This is because zinc is easier to oxidize as compared to iron from the above E° oxidation values.