galvanise – to protect metal against corrosion by coating it with a layer of zinc

(pronounced gal-vuh-nyz)

To remember the meaning of galvanise, use the following mnemonic:

Gallons of water entered the van; it was up to my eyes (galvanise). I didn't protect the metal against corrosion so now it's going to sink (zinc).

Galvanising is a process used to protect iron or steel from rusting by coating it with a layer of zinc. The zinc acts as a barrier that prevents water and oxygen from reaching the surface, which would cause it to corrode. Zinc is more reactive than iron or steel, so it acts as a sacrificial metal. This means that if the coating is scratched or damaged, the zinc will corrode instead of the iron because it is higher in the reactivity series. 

The main method of galvanising is when the iron or steel is submerged in a bath of molten zinc (around 450°c) causing metallic bonds to be formed.