Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is an essential trace element for all living organisms. It is widely used to coat steel to prevent rusting.
Properties of Zinc
- Atomic number
- 30
- Category
- Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 65.38 u
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²
- Melting point
- 692.68 K (419.53 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1180 K (906.85 °C)
- Density
- 7.134 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.65
- Appearance
- Bluish-silver metal
- Discovered by
- Andreas Sigismund Marggraf (1746)
Facts about Zinc
- Zinc coating on steel is called galvanization — it stops rust!
- Pennies made after 1982 are mostly zinc with a thin copper coating!
- Zinc is in sunscreen — it's the white stuff that blocks UV rays!
- Your body needs zinc to heal wounds and fight off germs!