30Zn65.38
Zinc
Transition metalsHard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²
- Atomic number
- 30
- Atomic mass
- 65.38
- Protons
- 30
- Neutrons
- 35 (most common)
- Electrons
- 30
- Shells
- 2, 8, 18, 2
- State at 25 °C
- Solid
- Position
- Group 12, period 4
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered bySmelted in India over a thousand years ago; isolated in Europe by Andreas Marggraf, 1746
Mines at Zawar in Rajasthan produced metallic zinc centuries before Europe. Indian metalworkers invented a clever downward-distillation method to capture it.
Did you know?
- Your body needs zinc to heal wounds.
- Galvanised buckets and roofs are coated in zinc.
Where it's found
- The ore sphalerite
- Zawar mines, Rajasthan
What it's used for
- Galvanising iron to stop rust
- Batteries
- Brass (with copper)
Try it
Lemon batterySafe at home
- 1Push a galvanised (zinc-coated) nail and a copper coin into a lemon.
- 2Connect several lemons in a chain.
- 3Attach an LED.
What you'll see: The LED glows faintly. Zinc and copper in lemon juice make electricity.