2007-10-30 18:58:57 · 5 answers · asked by orange l 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Magnesium and zinc are reactive, except as alloys, such as the alloy in mag wheels. Over the years, copper will get a coating of green carbonate (malachite), but it will clean off with acids of ammonia without affecting the strength of the copper significantly. The corrosions of magnesium and zinc are progressive and destructive. Magnesium not only reacts with very weak acids, it also reacts with steam. Zinc reacts only with stronger (or boiling) acids. Copper reacts only with the strongly oxidizing nitric and concentrated sulfuric acids.
2007-10-30 19:07:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Copper is less reactive than both zinc and magnesium, so it'll withstand "the elements" (as in weather) better and corrode more slowly.
2007-10-31 02:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by RareOne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Copper doesn't burn. Mg. goes up like a rocket and Zn does its best.
2. Copper weathers to a hard oxide which protects the copper underneath. Mg gets a flaky oxide. Zn is quite good too.
2007-10-31 02:05:01 · answer #3 · answered by Tom P 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Copper is the most malleable of these metals. Magnesium and zinc are both brittle and cannot be hammered into shape. Magnesium is also highly flammable.
2007-10-31 02:03:04 · answer #4 · answered by surlygurl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because it's lighter weight and more maleable than the others. Actually it is copper over steel.
2007-10-31 02:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by Frosty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋