Zinc is a bluish-white metal that is found naturally in the Earth's crust. It was likely first discovered and purified in ancient China around 1000 AD, and was later described as a metal by the Swiss alchemist Paracelsus in the 15th century. Zinc is commonly used today to galvanize other metals and prevent corrosion, as well as in the production of many compounds for applications like rubber, paint pigment, animal feed supplements, and more. The largest producers of zinc today are China, Australia, Peru, the United States, and Canada.

1. Zinc
Element
Project
Zak Konys

2. What does the element's name
mean?
• It comes from the German name for the
element, Zink.
• The original meaning is unknown.
• Bears a resemblance to German word
Zinn meaning tin and Zinke meaning spike
or fork.

3. Where was it discovered?
• Ancient texts from India and China
make reference to Zinc products.
• It is thought that the Chinese
produced the first purified zinc
around 1000A.D.

4. Who discovered Zinc?
• The Swiss alchemist Paracelsus--who
was born with the much-lengthier name
of Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus
Bombastus von Hohenheim.
• He first described zinc as a metal in the
fifteenth century, and he is often credited
with its identification as an element.

5. Properties
Zinc exists as a solid at room temp, it’s
neither ductile nor malleable (at room temp).
• Ductile means capable of being drawn into thin wires.
• Malleable means capable of being hammered into thin sheets.

6. Properties
What is the color?
Zinc is a bluish-white metal with a shiny surface
(notice the background).

7. Properties
Melting and boiling points
• 787.1 F (419.5 C)
• 1,665 F (907 C)
Density
• 7.14 grams per cubic
centimeter

8. Major Isotopes
Five naturally occurring isotopes of zinc are:
1. zinc-64
2. zinc-66
3. zinc-67
4. zinc-68
5. zinc-70 (naturally radioactive).
Twenty-four artificial radioactive isotopes of zinc
are also know.

9. Major Isotopes
Zinc-65 (artificial & radioactive) is used as a tracer to study
physical and biological events.

10. Availability
• Zinc’s abundance in the Earth’s crust
is estimated at 0.02%.
• Approximately 23rd on the list of the
elements in abundance.

11. Where is Zinc found?
• As of 2008, the largest producers of zinc
ore were China, Australia, Peru, the
United States and Canada.
• In the united states, zinc was mined in
seven states.

12. To get the element
Two ways to produce zinc.
1. Roasting (heating in air) converts the ore to
a compound of zinc and oxygen.
2. Pass an electric current through a compound
of zinc. The electric current causes it to break
apart producing pure zinc.

13. Cost of Zinc
Cost, pure: $5.30 per 100g
Cost, bulk: $0.18 per 100g

14. Common uses of Zinc
The most important use of zinc today
is in galvanizing (thinly covering) other
metals.
Zinc does not corrode
as easily as iron and
other metals.

15. Common uses of Zinc
Commonly used as an Anode
When attached to steel
Zinc will deteriorate,
instead of steel, and
protect the steel in a
salt water environment
such as a bridge or
boat.

16. Common Uses of Zinc
In humans, zinc deficiencies
are serious. It is used to
build molecules of DNA.

17. Major compounds containing Zinc
and uses.
• zinc acetate (Zn(C2H3O2)2): wood preservative; dye for textiles; additive for animal f
eed; glazing for ceramics
• zinc arsenate (Zn3(AsO4)2): wood preservative; insecticide
• zinc borate (ZnB4O7): fireproofing of textiles; prevents the growth of fungus and mild
ew
• zinc chloride (ZnCl2): solder (for welding metals); fireproofing; food preservative; addi
tive in antisepticsand deodorants; treatment of textiles; adhesives; dental cement; pet
roleum refining; and embalming and taxidermy products
• zinc fluorosilicate (ZnSiF6): mothproofing agent; hardener for concrete.
• zinc hydrosulfite (ZnS2O4): bleaching agent for textiles, straw, vegetable oils, and oth
er products; brightening agent for paper and beet and cane sugar juice.
• zinc oxide (ZnO): used in rubber production; white pigment in paint; prevents growth
of molds on paints;
manufacturer of glass; photocopy machines; production of many kinds of glass, cera
mics, tile, and plastics.
• zinc phosphide (Zn3P2): rodenticide (rat killer)
• zinc sulfate (ZnSO4): manufacture of rayon; supplement in animal feeds; dyeing of te
xtiles; and wood preservative.

18. Fun Fact
• A Penny is 97.5% zinc &
2.5% copper plating.

19. Source Citation:
• "Zinc." Chemical Elements. David E. Newton. Ed. Kathleen J. Edgar. 2nd
ed. Detroit: UXL, 2010. Gale Science In Context. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
• Document URL
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWind
ow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=true&prodId=SCIC
&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CCV26402
00100&mode=view&userGroupName=tlearn_trl&jsid=08adeed9ed9b39876
bea1369a7632384
• "Zinc." World of Scientific Discovery. Gale, 2007. Gale Science In Context.
Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
• Document URL
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWind
ow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=true&prodId=SCIC
&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CCV16485
00658&mode=view&userGroupName=tlearn_trl&jsid=591bdff9da693c9251
7693dc6eac0d9a