Zn
Zinc
Element 30 · Transition metal
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is a bluish-silver metal used mainly to galvanise steel against rust. It is an essential trace element for the immune system.
- Transition metal
- Period 4
- Group 12
- d-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 65.4
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d10 4s2
- Melting point
- 419.5 °C
- 692.68 K
- Boiling point
- 906.9 °C
- 1,180 K
- Density
- 7.134 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.65
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 139 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 9.394 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about zinc
- 01
Zinc was smelted in India by the 12th century, long before Marggraf isolated it in Europe.
- 02
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
- 03
Hundreds of enzymes in the body need zinc to work.
Applications
What is zinc used for?
- Galvanising steel
- Brass and die-casting alloys
- Batteries
- Sunscreen (zinc oxide)
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Year
Where
Germany
Name origin
German Zink, possibly from Zinke, “prong”, for the jagged crystals.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 30
- Atomic mass
- 65.4 u
- Group
- 12
- Period
- 4
- Block
- d-block
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d10 4s2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.65
- Electron affinity
- —
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 139 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 5
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+2).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st906.4
- 2nd1,733.3
- 3rd3,833
- 4th5,731
- 5th7,970
- 6th10,400
- 7th12,900
- 8th16,800
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 692.68 K · 419.5 °C · 787.2 °F
- Boiling point
- 1,180 K · 906.9 °C · 1,664.3 °F
- Density
- 7.134 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 25.47 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Silver-grey
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Zinc questions
What is Zn on the periodic table?
Zn is the symbol for zinc, element 30 on the periodic table. It sits in group 12, period 4, in the transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 65.4.
What is the atomic number of zinc?
Zinc has atomic number 30, so every zinc atom has 30 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Zn and its atomic mass is 65.4.
Who discovered zinc?
Zinc was discovered by Andreas Sigismund Marggraf in 1746 (Germany). The name comes from German Zink, possibly from Zinke, “prong”, for the jagged crystals.
What is zinc used for?
Zinc is used for: galvanising steel; brass and die-casting alloys; batteries; sunscreen (zinc oxide).
Is zinc a metal?
Yes. Zinc is a transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of zinc?
The electron configuration of zinc is [Ar] 3d10 4s2. Its 30 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 2.