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Zinc is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30.
Notable characteristics
Zinc is a moderately reactive metal that will combine with oxygen and other non-metals, and will react with dilute acids to release hydrogen. The one common oxidation state of zinc is +2.
Applications
Zinc is the fourth most common metal in use, trailing only iron, aluminium, and copper in annual production.
- Zinc is used to galvanize metals such as steel to prevent their corrosion.
- Zinc is used in alloys such as brass, nickel silver, typewriter metal, various solder formulas, German silver, etc.
- Brass, in turn, has wide application because of its strength and corrosion resistance.
- Zinc is used in die castings, especially by the automobile industry.
- Rolled zinc is used as part of the containers of batteries.
- Zinc oxide is used as a white pigment in watercolors and paints, and as an activator in the rubber industry. As an over-the-counter ointment, it is applied as a thin coating on the exposed skin of the face and nose to prevent dehydration and thereby protect against sunburn in the summer and windburn in the winter. Applied thinly to a baby's diaper area (perineum) with each diaper change, it protects against rash. As determined in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, it's part of an effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration in some cases.
- Zinc chloride is used as a deodorant and as a wood preservative.
- Zinc sulfide is used in luminescent pigments, for making the hands of clocks and other items that glow in the dark.
- Zinc methyl (Zn(CH3)2) is used in a number of organic syntheses.
- Zinc stearate is a lubricative plastic additive.
- Lotions made of calamine, a mix of Zn-(hydroxy-)carbonates and silicates, are used to treat skin rash.
- Zinc metal is included in most proprietary over-the-counter daily vitamin and mineral preparations. Along with some other metals, it is believed by some to possess anti-oxidant properties, which protect against premature aging of the skin and muscles of the body. In larger amounts, taken as zinc alone in other proprietaries, it is believed by some to speed up the healing process after an injury.
- Zinc gluconate glycine is taken in lozenge form as a remedy for the common cold.
A popular misconception
The characteristic metal counters of traditional French bars are often referred to as zinc bars or simply zinc, but in fact zinc has never been used for this purpose and the counters are actually made of an alloy of lead and tin.
History
Zinc alloys have been used for centuries, as brass goods dating to 1000-1400 BC have been found in Palestine and zinc objects with 87% zinc have been found in prehistoric Transylvania. Because of the low boiling point and chemical reactivity of this metal (isolated zinc would tend to go up the chimney rather than be captured), the true nature of this metal was not understood in ancient times.
The manufacture of brass was known to the Romans by about 30 BC, using a technique where calamine and copper were heated together in a crucible. The zinc oxides in calamine were reduced, and the free zinc metal was trapped by the copper, forming an alloy. The resulting brass was either cast or hammered into shape.
Smelting and extraction of impure forms of zinc was being accomplished as early as AD 1000 in India and China. By the end of the 14th century, the Hindus were aware of the existence of zinc as a metal separate from the seven known to the ancients. In the West, impure zinc as a remnant in melting ovens was known since Antiquity, but usually thrown away as worthless. Strabo mentions it as pseudo-arguros "mock silver". The Berne Zinc tablet is a votive plaque dating to Roman Gaul, probably made from such zinc remnants. The discovery of pure metallic zinc is most often credited to the German Andreas Marggraf, in the year 1746, though the whole story is considerably more involved.
Descriptions of brass manufacture are found in Western Europe in the writings of Albertus Magnus, c. 1248, and by the 16th century, the understanding and awareness of the new metal broadened considerably. Georg Agricola observed, in 1546, that a white metal could be condensed and scraped off the walls of a furnace when zinc ores were smelted. He added in his notes that a similar metal called "zincum" was being produced in Silesia. Paracelsus (died 1541) was the first in the West to say that "zincum" was a new metal and that it had a separate set of chemical properties from other known metals.
The upshot is that zinc was known by the time Marggraf made his discoveries and in fact zinc had been isolated two years earlier by another chemist, Anton von Swab. However, Marggraf's reports were exhaustive and methodical and the quality of his research cemented his reputation as the discoverer of zinc.
Before the discovery of the zinc sulfide flotation technique, calamine was the mineral source of zinc metal.
Biological role
Zinc is an essential element, necessary for sustaining all life, including plants, bacteria, and all animals including man. It is estimated that 3000 of the 100,000 or so proteins involved in human life are zinc-containing proteins. Deficiencies of zinc produce hair loss, skin lesions, wasting of body tissues, and, eventually, death.However, adults eating enough red meat and a varied diet will only very rearely be zinc deficiency. Many cells secrete zinc, including the pancrease (also secreting insulin) the salivary gland, and the prostate gland. Immune cells also secrete zinc. No one knows why zinc is secreted by these cells.
Zinc nutriture in pregnancy and in young children is a very real problem, especially among those who cannot afford a good supply of meat and a varied diet. Brain develepment is stunted by zinc insufficiency in utero and in youth. and nursing in doubt should have their zinc status checked, or take a supplement.
According to some sources, taking zinc tablets may provide some immunity against colds and flu, although this is disputed. The basic biology is that the immune system will definately be impaired in zinc deficiency and will then definitely respond to supplementation. The direct effect of zinc (as in lozenges) on bacteria and viruses is also well-established, and has been capitalized upon since at leats 2000 BC, from which time zinc salts in paliative salves are documented. However, exactly how to deliver zinc salts against pathogens (germs)without injuring your own tissues is still being investigated.
Eyesight, taste, smell and memory are also connected with zinc and a deficiency in zinc can cause malfunctions of these organs and functions.
Natural food sources of zinc include oysters, red meat and poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains, pumpkin seed or sunflower seeds.
There is zinc in semen, and no one really knows why. As much as 1/2 of a milligram of zinc will be found in 1 mL of seminal fluid. Deficiencies in zinc in males can lead to reduced sperm count and sex drive, but this is probably just a by-produce of the general malaise of advanced malnutrition. There is no evidence that zinc supplements enhance male sexuality in males who have adequate general nutrition. (On the other hand, eating oysters with your mate can be sexy !).
Abundance
Zinc is the 23rd most abundant element in the earth's crust. The most heavily mined ores tend to contain roughly 10% iron as well as 40-50% zinc. Minerals from which zinc is extracted include sphalerite, zinc blende, smithsonite, calamine, and franklinite.
Zinc Production
There are zinc mines throughout the world, with the largest producers being Australia, Canada, China, Peru and the U.S.A. Mines in Europe include Vieille Montagne in Belgium and Zinkgruvan in Sweden. Zinc metal is produced using extractive metallurgy. Zinc sulfide (sphalerite) minerals are concentrated using the froth flotation method and then purified to zinc metal using pyrometallurgy. Zinc oxide treatment has much fewer applications, but high grade deposits have been successful in producing zinc from zinc oxides and zinc carbonates using hydrometallurgy.
Compounds
Zinc oxide is perhaps the best known and most widely used zinc compound, as it makes a good base for white pigments in paint. It also finds industrial use in the rubber industry, and is sold as opaque sunscreen. A variety of other zinc compounds find use industrially, such as zinc chloride (in deodorants), zinc sulfide (in luminescent paints), and zinc methyl in the organic laboratory. Roughly one quarter of all zinc output is consumed in the form of zinc compounds.
Isotopes
Naturally occurring zinc is composed of the 4 stable isotopes Zn-64, Zn-66, Zn-67, and Zn-68 with 64 being the most abundant (48.6% natural abundance). 22 radioisotopes have been characterized with the most {abundant and/or stable} being Zn-65 with a half-life of 244.26 days, and Zn-72 with a half-life of 46.5 hours. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lives that are less than 14 hours and the majority of these have half lives that are less than 1 second. This element also has 4 meta states.
Precautions
Metallic zinc is not considered to be toxic, but there is a condition called zinc shakes or zinc chills that can be induced by the inhalation of freshly formed zinc oxide. Excessive intake of zinc can promote deficiency in other dietary minerals.