Question

Why Iron is used in the construction of bridges?

Answer 1

Properties of Iron: Lustrous, ductile, malleable. When Iron comes in contact with damp air, rusting of iron starts. Iron is diluted rapidly when it comes in contact with dilute acids.

Complete step by step answer: Iron is used in constructing bridges because of following reasons:
-Tensile Strength of Iron is highly greater than other elements so it can be used as a Building material.
Also, Iron is a strong metal and it is far different from mercury which melts rapidly.
-Iron is also widely and cheaply available in comparison to other materials which is also an important factor in construction of bridges.
-Another reason is that it reacts less with the environment because it is a less reactive metal.
Iron is used in construction of bridges and houses because it is capable of lifting the weight of different things at one time.
We know that iron is a strong, hard and tough metal, hence it has high resisting power. So, it can resist high load, stress and strain. Also, iron is capable of lifting a load of different things at the same time.
However, iron used in construction of bridges experiences rusting due to the action of moisture and water. Rusting and corrosion can severely damage the properties of iron making it unfit to serve as the bridge. Rusting and corrosion decreases the strength and other physical properties of iron and converts the strong iron into flaky powder.
-Rusting of iron can be prevented in many ways so as to save its properties from getting degraded. In case of bridges iron is painted or coated which protects its surface from reacting with water and moisture. Electroplating and Galvanising are the other ways to protect iron from rusting and corrosion.
-After studying and analysing above reasons, we can say that Iron can be used in the construction of bridges.

Additional Information: Some more uses of Iron are as follow:
-Iron is used in manufacturing steel.
-Iron is also used to make alloys.
Some more properties of Iron:
-Conductivity,
-low cost
-dissolvable, etc.
-Alloys of iron- Steel, Manganese, Nickel, Tungsten, etc.

Note: There is one exception i.e. Steel. Steel has higher tensile strength than Iron. So it can also be used as a building material.