Question

Can you use galvanized steel for electrolysis?

Answer 1

When attempting questions based on electrolysis like the one given to us above, keep in mind the various concepts and terms related to electrolysis like electrodes, anodes and keep in mind all the factors which can help in electrolysis. Keep in mind which metals should be used to make the electrodes and anodes.

Complete step-by-step solution:
To understand if we should use galvanized steel or not in electrolysis, let's understand what electrolysis is first. Electrolysis is basically a process where we decompose ionic compounds to their elemental forms by passing a direct electric current through the compound which is in fluid form. The cations of the compound are reduced at cathode while the anions of the compound are oxidized at the anode.
By reducing we can mean that oxygen is removed from the compound or we can also mean that an electron is added to a substance. And by oxidation we mean that oxygen is added to the compound or an electron is removed from that substance.
Electrolysis is done in a vessel which is rightfully called an electrolytic cell which contains two electrodes; a cathode and an anode which are connected to a direct current source and the electrolyte which is the required ionic compound undergoes decomposition in fluid form.
Galvanized steel is the steel which is prepared by the process of galvanizing, where a protective layer of zinc is coated to steel or iron in order to prevent rusting. Most common step of galvanizing steel is to dip the parts in a bath of molten hot zinc, also called Hot-dip galvanizing.
Now since galvanized steel already has a coating of zinc on it, it should not be used as anode in electrolysis because it can also deposit its zinc coating into the electrolyte fluid, which will create unwanted products in the end which is not favorable.

Note: Usually either washing soda or baking soda can be used for electrolysis. Adding about a tablespoon of washing soda into a gallon of water gives us an electrolyte solution, which can be used in further electrolysis from time to time, with popular cathode materials like Mg:Ag, LiF etc.