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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