Question 16:

Give reasons why copper is used to make hot water tanks and not steel (an alloy of

iron).

Answer

Copper does not react with cold water, hot water, or steam. However, iron reacts with

steam. If the hot water tanks are made of steel (an alloy of iron), then iron would 

react vigorously with the steam formed from hot water.

3Fe       +     4H₂O       →     Fe₃O₄­                 +       4H₂

Iron             Steam              Iron(II, III) oxide         Hydrogen

That is why copper is used to make hot water tanks, and not steel.

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