Zinc
Atomic Number: 30
Symbol: Zn
Atomic Weight: 65.39
Discovery: known since prehistoric time
Electron Configuration: [Ar] 4s2 3d10
Word Origin: German Zink: of obscure origin, probably German for tin
Isotopes: There are 21 known isotopes of zinc, 5 stable and 16 unstable. Natural zinc contains the 5 stable isotopes.
Properties: Zinc has a melting point of 419.58°C, boiling point of 907°C, specific gravity of 7.133 (25°C), with a valence of 2. Zinc is a lustous blue-white metal. It is brittle at low temperatures, but becomes malleable at 100-150°C. It is a fair electrical conductor. Zinc burns in air at high red heat, evolving white clouds of zinc oxide.
Uses: Zinc is used to form numerous alloys, including brass, bronze, nickel silver, soft solder, Geman silver, spring brass, and aluminum solder. Zinc is used to make die castings for use in the electrical, automotive, and hardware industries. The alloy Prestal, consisting of 78% zinc and 22% aluminum, is nearly as strong as steel yet exhibits superplasticity. Zinc is used to galvanize other metals to prevent corrosion. Zinc oxide is used in paints, rubbers, cosmetics, plastics, inks, soap, batteries, pharmaceuticals, and many other products. Other zinc compounds are also widely used, such as zinc sulfide (luminous dials and fluorescent lights) and ZrZn2 (ferromagnetic materials). Zinc is an essential element for humans and other animal nutrition. Zinc-deficient animals require 50% more food to gain the same weight as animals with sufficient zinc. Zinc metal is not considered toxic, but if fresh zinc oxide is inhaled it can cause a disorder referred to as zinc chills or oxide shakes.
Sources: The primary ores of zinc are sphalerite or blende (zinc sulfide), smithsonite (zinc carbonate), calamine (zinc silicate), and franklinite (zinc, iron, and manganese oxides). An old method of producing zinc was by reducing calamine with charcoal. More recently, it has been obtained by roasting the ores to form zinc oxide and then reducing the oxide with carbon or coal, followed by distillation of the metal.
Element Classification: Transition Metal
Density (g/cc): 7.133
Melting Point (K): 692.73
Boiling Point (K): 1180
Appearance: Bluish-silver, ductile metal
Atomic Radius (pm): 138
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 9.2
Covalent Radius (pm): 125
Ionic Radius: 74 (+2e)
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.388
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 7.28
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 114.8
Debye Temperature (K): 234.00
Pauling Negativity Number: 1.65
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 905.8
Oxidation States: 2
Lattice Structure: Hexagonal
Lattice Constant (Å): 2.660
References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics (18th Ed.)
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