Zn
Zinc
Atomic number: 30Mass: 65.38 uCategory: Transition Metal
About Zinc
Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a silvery-greyish appearance. It is used to galvanise other metals such as iron to prevent rusting. Zinc is an essential mineral for human health, involved in immune function and wound healing.
Properties
Period
4
Group
12
Block
D
Category
Transition Metal
Electronegativity
1.65 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
906.4 kJ/mol
Melting Point
693 K (420°C)
Boiling Point
1180 K (907°C)
Density
7.134 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+2
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:2e⁻
Real-World Uses
Galvanizing iron
Batteries
Die casting
Sunscreen
Dietary supplement
Fun Fact
Galvanized steel — coated with zinc — is what most metal poles, fences, and buckets are made of. The zinc sacrifices itself to protect the iron!