Zinc

Zinc (from German Zink) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30.

Applications

Zinc is the fourth most common metal in use, trailing only iron, aluminium, and copper in annual production.

Related Topics:
Iron - Aluminium - Copper

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• 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.
• Since 1982, zinc has been the primary metal used in making American pennies.
• 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. Preparations include zinc acetate and zinc gluconate.
• 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.

Related Topics:
Counters - French - Bars - Lead - Tin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~