Galvanization, named after the Italian scientist Luigi Galvani, was originally the administration of electric shocks (in the 19th century also termed Faradism, after Michael Faraday). It stemmed from Galvani's induction of twitches in severed frogs' legs, by his accidental generation of electricity (see galvanism). This archaic sense is the origin of the meaning of galvanized when meaning 'stirred to sudden action'. Luigi Galvani Luigi Galvani (September 9, 1737–December 4, 1798) was an Italian physician and physicist who lived and died in Bologna. ... Michael Faraday Michael Faraday (September 22, 1791 – August 25, 1867) was a British scientist (a physicist and chemist) who contributed significantly to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. ... Frogs are amphibians in the Order Anura, which includes frogs and toads. ... The article on electrical energy is located elsewhere. ... In biology, galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by an electric current. ...

Later the word was used for processes of electrodeposition. Nowadays it typically means hot-dip galvanizing, a chemical process that is used to coat steel or iron with zinc. This is done to reduce corrosion (specifically rusting) of the ferrous item. The zinc coating prevents oxidation of the protected metal by forming a barrier. Zinc oxide is a fine white dust that (in contrast to iron oxide) does not cause a breakdown of the substrate's surface integrity as it is formed. Indeed the zinc oxide, if undisturbed, can act as a barrier to further oxidation, in a way similar to the protection afforded to aluminium and stainless steels by their oxide layers. Hot dip galvanizing deposits a thick, robust layer that may be more than is necessary for the protection of the underlying metal in some applications. This is the case in automobile bodies, where additional rust proofing paint will be applied. Here, a thiner form of galvanizing is applied by electroplating, called "electro-galvanized". Where the metal is not to be painted or is to be used in critical exposure conditions such as near salt water, "hot-dip galvanized" is preferred for its long term durability. Galvanized nails are now usually electro-galvanized but these are greatly inferior to the hot-dipped kind, particularly when used in fences. Electroplating is the the coating of an electrically conductive item with a layer of metal using electrical current. ... Hot-dip galvanizing is the process of coating iron or steel with a thin zinc layer by passing the steel through a molten bath of zinc at a temperature of around 450°C. Zinc rusts to form zinc oxide, a fairly strong material that stops further rusting, protecting the steel... Steel framework Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metal Group, Period, Block 8 (VIIIB), 4, d Density, Hardness 7874 kg/m3, 4. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Density, Hardness 7140 kg/m3, 2. ... Corrosion is deterioration of useful properties in a material due to reactions with its environment. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metal Group, Period, Block 8 (VIIIB), 4, d Density, Hardness 7874 kg/m3, 4. ... Zinc oxide is a chemical compound with formula ZnO. It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in acids or alkalis. ... The word substrate can mean the following: In biochemistry, a substrate is a molecule which is acted upon by an enzyme. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... Passivation is the process of making a material passive in relation to another material prior to using the materials together. ... General Name, Symbol, Number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 13 (IIIA), 3, p Density, Hardness 2700 kg/m3, 2. ... In metallurgy, stainless steel is defined1 as a ferrous alloy with a minimum of 10. ... A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ... Electroplating is the coating of an electrically conductive item with a layer of metal using electrical current. ...

Galvanic or sacrificial-anode protection uses ingots of zinc electrically bonded to the metal it is to protect where the metals will be subject to an electrolytic solution. In such a solution the zinc is absorbed into the electrolyte in preference to the metal that it protects. In biology, galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by an electric current. ... This article or section should be merged with Cathodic protection A galvanic anode, also known as a sacrificial anode, is used to protect metals from galvanic corrosion, by the use of a metal electrode which is itself consumed instead in an anodic oxidation reaction. ... An electrolyte is a substance which dissociates free ions when dissolved (or molten), to produce an electrically conductive medium. ...

Obviously in some environments both mechanisms can be at work. For example, the traditional measure of a coating's effectiveness is resistance to a salt spray. Galvanization cannot protect surfaces subject to surface abrasion.