Zinc, a transition metal with a lustrous bluish-white colour, is represented by the symbol Zn and has an atomic number of 30. It is estimated to be Zinc, about 65 grams per ton in the Earth's crust. The term "zinc" has German origins and is believed to be traced back to the Persian word "sing," meaning "stone."
Zinc, symbolised by Zn with an atomic number of 30, is a slightly brittle, silvery-grey metal at room temperature when free of oxidation. It is the first element in Group 12 of the periodic table and shares certain chemical similarities with magnesium: both exhibit a single common oxidation state of +2, and their ions (Zn²⁺ and Mg²⁺) are of comparable size. Zinc, the 24th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, has five stable isotopes. Its most prevalent ore is sphalerite (zinc blende), a zinc sulfide mineral.
Zinc is an important element in chemistry with several notable chemical properties:
Some common zinc compounds and their uses include:
Zinc is widely used across various industries due to its versatility. Here are some of its primary applications:
(Session 2025 - 26)