Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the 展开

Reactivity
Zinc has an electron configuration of [Ar]3d 4s and is a member of the group 12 of the periodic table. It is a moderately reactive metal and strong reducing agent; in the reactivity series it is comparable to manganese. … 展开

Major applications of zinc include, with percentages given for the US
1. Galvanizing (55%)
2. Brass 展开

Physical properties
Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous, diamagnetic metal, though most common commercial grades of the … 展开

Ancient use
Various isolated examples of the use of impure zinc in ancient times have been discovered. Zinc ores were used to make the zinc–copper alloy 展开

Mining and processing
Zinc is the fourth most common metal in use, trailing only iron, aluminium, and copper with an annual production of about 13 million tonnes. The … 展开

Zinc is an essential trace element for humans. and other animals, for plants and for microorganisms. Zinc is required for the function of over 300 展开