Question

Food cans are coated with tin but not with zinc because

(a) zinc is costlier than tin.

(b) zinc has a higher melting point than tin.

(c) zinc is more reactive than tin.

(d) tin is more reactive than zinc.

Answer 1

(c) zinc is more reactive than tin.

Zinc is more reactive than tin. Tin only reacts with very strong acids. However, zinc can react with simple acids found in food. Hence, in order to prevent food poisoning, the food cans are coated with a cheap, less reactive metal like tin.