Zinc (Zn)
"The Protector, a hero who sacrifices itself to coat and protect steel from its arch-nemesis, Rust."
A memorable persona to anchor Zn in your mind.
7.14
Grams per cm³
419.527
Celsius (°C)
139
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Zinc is found in the galvanized coating on a nail or a chain-link fence.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1746
Discovered By
Andreas Sigismund Marggraf
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the German, 'zinc', which may in turn be derived from the Persian word 'sing', meaning stone."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
65.38 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
907°C
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 3d104s2
1st Ionization Energy
9.394 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Zinc is a bluish-white, brittle metal at room temperature."
Did You Know?
The process of galvanization, which protects steel from rusting, involves coating it with a thin layer of zinc.
The U.S. penny is no longer made of copper; since 1982, it has been made of zinc with a very thin copper plating.
Zinc is an essential trace mineral for human health, playing a vital role in the immune system, wound healing, and sense of taste and smell.
When zinc burns in air, it produces a fluffy, white solid called zinc oxide, which is a common ingredient in sunscreens.