Zinc is the metal commonly used to galvanize iron and steel.
Galvanization coats iron or steel with zinc to protect the underlying metal from corrosion. The most common industrial method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which cleaned steel is immersed in molten zinc.
Zinc protects steel in two ways. The coating forms a barrier against moisture and oxygen, and zinc also acts sacrificially: it corrodes preferentially when the coating is scratched, helping protect exposed iron.
Galvanized steel is widely used for roofing, fencing, ducts, pipes, vehicle parts, and structural components. The process is sometimes confused with electroplating, which deposits zinc using an electrical current and usually creates a thinner coating than hot-dip galvanizing.