zinc
Sign in to saveZinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny blue whitish appearance when surface oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic table. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in Earth's crust, with an average concentration of 70 grams per ton. Zinc also has five stable isotopes; the most abundant of which, Zn-64, comprises nearly half of zinc's total abundance. In some respects, zinc is chemically similar to magnesium: both elements exhibit only one normal oxidation state (
AI overview
Zinc is a slightly brittle metal (element Zn, atomic number 30) with a shiny blue-white appearance, making it the 24th most abundant element in Earth's crust. It's important in various applications because of its chemical properties, which in some ways resemble those of magnesium.
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Article
46 sectionsContents
- Characteristics
- Physical properties
- Occurrence
- Isotopes
- Compounds and chemistry
- Reactivity
- Zinc(I) compounds
- Zinc(II) compounds
- Test for zinc
- History
- Ancient use
- Early studies and naming
- Isolation
- Later work
- Production
- Mining and processing
- Environmental impact
- Applications
- Anti-corrosion and batteries
- Alloys
- Other industrial uses
- Organic chemistry
- Dietary supplement
- Gastroenteritis
- Common cold{{anchor|Common cold}}
- Weight gain
- Other
- Topical use
- Biological role
- Enzymes
- Signalling
- Other proteins
- Nutrition
- Dietary recommendations
- Dietary intake
- Deficiency
- Soil remediation
- Agriculture
- Precautions
- Toxicity
- Poisoning
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny blue whitish appearance when surface oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic table. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in Earth's crust, with an average concentration of 70 grams per ton. Zinc also has five stable isotopes; the most abundant of which, Zn-64, comprises nearly half of zinc's total abundance. In some respects, zinc is chemically similar to magnesium: both elements exhibit only one normal oxidation state (+2), and the Zn2+ and Mg2+ ions are of similar size. The most common zinc ore is sphalerite (zinc blende), a zinc sulfide mineral. The largest concentration of economically feasible lodes in descending order are located in China, Peru, and Australia and among others. Zinc is refined industrially by froth flotation of the ore, roasting, and final extraction using electricity (electrowinning).
Zinc is an essential trace element for humans, animals, plants and for microorganisms and is necessary for both prenatal and postnatal development. It is the second most abundant trace metal in humans after iron, an important cofactor for many enzymes, and the only metal which appears in all enzyme classes. Zinc is also an essential nutrient element for coral growth.