Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 10: Problem 100

Tin cans are actually iron plated with tin. What is the advantage of the tin coating?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The tin coating on iron cans serves as a protective barrier against oxidation and rust formation. This is because tin is a non-reactive metal that does not corrode easily. The coating helps preserve the contents of the can for an extended shelf-life, maintains food quality, and ensures safe storage and transportation. Also, tin is recyclable and cost-effective compared to other alternatives, making it an environmentally friendly and economical choice for manufacturers and consumers.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the composition of tin cans

Tin cans are made up of iron coated with a thin layer of tin. The iron provides the structural strength to the can, while the tin coating serves a specific purpose.
02

Role of tin coating

The primary role of the tin coating is to prevent the iron from oxidizing or rusting. Iron can easily react with oxygen and moisture in the air, leading to the formation of iron oxide, which is the rust that forms on the surface of the iron.
03

Advantage of tin coating

Tin is a non-reactive metal and does not corrode easily. When it is coated on the surface of the iron, it acts as a barrier and prevents the iron can from coming into direct contact with oxygen and moisture. This helps to prevent the oxidation process and the formation of rust on the iron can.
04

Extended shelf-life and preservation

By providing a layer of protection against rust, the tin coating helps in preserving the contents of the can for a longer period of time. Rust can contaminate the food inside the can and also compromise the integrity of the can, making it unsafe for storage and transportation. The tin coating allows the food to be safely stored in the can, maintaining its quality and ensuring a longer shelf-life.
05

Recyclable and cost-effective

Tin coating is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for preventing rust on iron cans. Tin is a recyclable material, and the cost of tin is lower than some other alternatives like aluminum or stainless steel. By using a tin-coated iron can, manufacturers can keep their production costs low while still providing consumers with a quality and hygienic product.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

How is electricity similar to water flowing in hose?

Which ion is most difficult to reduce: \(\mathrm{Mn}^{2+}, \mathrm{Hg}^{2+}, \mathrm{Fe}^{3+}, \mathrm{Mg}^{2+}, \mathrm{Li}^{+} ?\)

Recharging a battery means forcing a spontaneous redox reaction to run backwards - in the nonspontaneous direction - once all the reactants have been used up. In Practice Problem \(10.24\), you considered a battery made from lead and copper. (a) Write the spontaneous redox reaction for this battery. (b) Write the recharging reaction for this battery.

Hydrogen peroxide \(\left(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}\right)\) can be made to decompose into water and oxygen as shown below. (The hydrogen peroxide in the beaker is decomposing to give a cloud of water vapor. Oxygen gas is also being produced.) Is this a redox reaction? If so, prove it.

Indicate whether each reaction is a redox reaction. If it is, which atom gets oxidized and which atom gets reduced? Consult the shortcut rules. \(\mathrm{P}_{4}+6 \mathrm{Br}_{2} \rightarrow 4 \mathrm{PBr}_{3}\) (Hint: \(\mathrm{Br}\) is more electronegative than P.)
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free