Zinc Definition and 65 Threads

Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a silvery-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic table. 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. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in Earth's crust and has five stable isotopes. The most common zinc ore is sphalerite (zinc blende), a zinc sulfide mineral. The largest workable lodes are in Australia, Asia, and the United States. Zinc is refined by froth flotation of the ore, roasting, and final extraction using electricity (electrowinning).
Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc in various proportions, was used as early as the third millennium BC in the Aegean area and the region which currently includes Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kalmykia, Turkmenistan and Georgia. In the second millennium BC it was used in the regions currently including West India, Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and Israel. Zinc metal was not produced on a large scale until the 12th century in India, though it was known to the ancient Romans and Greeks. The mines of Rajasthan have given definite evidence of zinc production going back to the 6th century BC. To date, the oldest evidence of pure zinc comes from Zawar, in Rajasthan, as early as the 9th century AD when a distillation process was employed to make pure zinc. Alchemists burned zinc in air to form what they called "philosopher's wool" or "white snow".
The element was probably named by the alchemist Paracelsus after the German word Zinke (prong, tooth). German chemist Andreas Sigismund Marggraf is credited with discovering pure metallic zinc in 1746. Work by Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta uncovered the electrochemical properties of zinc by 1800. Corrosion-resistant zinc plating of iron (hot-dip galvanizing) is the major application for zinc. Other applications are in electrical batteries, small non-structural castings, and alloys such as brass. A variety of zinc compounds are commonly used, such as zinc carbonate and zinc gluconate (as dietary supplements), zinc chloride (in deodorants), zinc pyrithione (anti-dandruff shampoos), zinc sulfide (in luminescent paints), and dimethylzinc or diethylzinc in the organic laboratory.
Zinc is an essential mineral, including to prenatal and postnatal development. Zinc deficiency affects about two billion people in the developing world and is associated with many diseases. In children, deficiency causes growth retardation, delayed sexual maturation, infection susceptibility, and diarrhea. Enzymes with a zinc atom in the reactive center are widespread in biochemistry, such as alcohol dehydrogenase in humans. Consumption of excess zinc may cause ataxia, lethargy, and copper deficiency.

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  1. J

    The XRD pattern of Zinc oxide and zinc oxide in acrylic acid

    the XRD pattern of Zinc oxide and zinc oxide in acrylic acid ! I did XRD analysis of zinc oxide, and its peaks are at 31.7, 34.4, 36.2, 47.5, 56.6, 62.9 and 67.9 (2-theta degree). further, I did XRD of zinc oxide dispersed in acrylic acid/IPA. but it's weird ! Why I could got some peaks at...
  2. F

    How Does Copper Sulfate Affect the Reaction Between Zinc and Hydrochloric Acid?

    I'm having some trouble understanding what happens when Zinc and Hydrochloric acid are reacted with Copper Sulfate as a catalyst. I *think* the Copper ion gets electrons from the zinc and turns into straight copper which leaves zinc free to react with the chlorine to form zinc chloride. Does...
  3. T

    Latent Heat of Zinc Sublimation at 600K

    The Latent Heat of sublimation for zinc(atomic mass = 65.4 u) at 600k is 1,990,000 j/kg. Assume that the zinc vapor can be treated as a monatomic ideal gas and that the volume of one kilogram of solid is negligible compared to that of the vapor. What percentage of the latent heat serves to...
  4. S

    Investigating Redox Reactions: Zinc Oxidation

    I'm trying to find out what type of reaction this is. a drop of water is added to a small pile of chemicals in a dish, after a few seconds, a blue flame and smoke is produced. NH4NO3 reacts to form (with chlorine as catalyst) N2O and water the experiment is called oxidation of zinc, so...
  5. F

    Zinc difecient Mother and birth weight problem

    Using a study of zinc deficient mothers a double blind test was conducted using a placebo group and a test group. Using a .05 significance level to test a claim that zinc supplimentation does increase weight at birth. The weights are measured in grams. How can I test to see if the zinc...
  6. F

    Oxidation - Reduction with copper and zinc

    Hello, In a lab experiment, we filled 2 wells of a culture plate, one of them had 1.0 M CuSO4 and a piece of zinc metal, and the other well had 1.0 M ZnSO4 and a piece of copper metal. My question is: Which well has the reduced form of zinc and the oxidized form of copper? I know that...
  7. Y

    Did zinc react with zinc sulphate solution?

    did zinc react with zinc sulphate solution
  8. S

    Zinc Coating: What Makes it Ideal for Steel Protection?

    Why Zinc is so commonly use coat metals such as steel? I know that its a good corrosion resistant metal to use but what properties of zinc make it good to use under normal atmospheric conditions? Does it have to do with the oxide layer that it forms around it?
  9. N

    How Do Copper, Iron, Aluminium, and Zinc Correlate in Properties and Uses?

    The question basically states write a brief overview of the correlation between the properties and uses for copper, iron, aluminium and zinc. Now I know this sounds like a simple research task, it's supposed to relate to periodic trends and their placing on the table. It's in this area that...
  10. S

    Does Zinc React with Acetic and Phosphoric Acid?

    Does zinc react with both acetic acid (CH3COOH) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4)? I can't figure out the chemical equations for them and am wondering if no reactions occur. Thanks.
  11. P

    Does Zinc Tend to Lose Electrons When in Contact with Negatively Charged Metals?

    If a metal(Cu) is negatively charged, and is put to touch an another neutral metal(Zn), the extra charges are shared by both metal. But, doesn't zinc tend to lose e-?
  12. G

    Solving Zinc Carbon Cell Equation: 2MnO2 + 3H2

    The hydrogen liberated at the cathode would coat the electrode so polarises the cell. And manganse (IV) oxide is used as a depolariser. I got an equation in my notes: 2MnO2 + 3H2 --> 2MHO(OH) + 2H2O. But evidently the oxygen doesn't balance. I tried looking on the internet but still no...
  13. O

    Solving Corrosion & Heat Transfer Problems on Steel Vat Plated with Zinc

    I have a problem that I need to solve that is quite extensive it boils down to this. I have a steel vat that's been plated with zinc and its being used to store sulfuric acid. I have to find corrosion rates, heat transfer and thermal stresses, elastic and plastic deformation problems, hydrogen...
  14. chem_tr

    Pentacoordination of Zinc: A Possibility or a Myth?

    Hello, I've heard rumors (frankly, not rumors, evidenced by some scientific papers), that zinc(II) ion has coordinated five ligands, four at a plane, and the fifth from top, to form a tetragonal monopyramidal environment. I have some doubts about this, because zinc (II) ion has d10...
  15. J

    Equation Reactions: Solid Zinc + Sodium Hydroxide

    I'm having trouble with sample AP Equation writing questions such as; solid zinc hydroxide is treated with concentrated sodium hydroxide solution. The sheet my teacher provided does not cover this reaction and many others is there any material out there that tells what will happen in most reactions
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