Zinc (Zn)
Coats steel to stop it rusting, and is in some sunscreens.
Zinc facts
- Symbol
- Zn
- Atomic number
- 30
- Atomic mass
- 65.38
- Family
- Transition metals
- Period
- 4
- Group
- 12
Famous reactions with zinc
- WHOOSH! Zinc meets SulfurZinc sulfide Zn + S → ZnS · With a spark or a flame · Try it
- Shiny brass! Copper meets ZincBrass (an alloy) · When melted together · Try it
- Bubble trouble! Zinc meets AcidZinc chloride + hydrogen gas Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂ · At room temperature · Try it
What does zinc react with?
Zinc makes a new substance with 11 other elements and chemicals in our lab:
- Zinc + OxygenZinc oxide 2Zn + O₂ → 2ZnO · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + FluorineZinc fluoride Zn + F₂ → ZnF₂ · At room temperature · Try it
- Zinc + PhosphorusZinc phosphide 3Zn + 2P → Zn₃P₂ · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + ChlorineZinc chloride Zn + Cl₂ → ZnCl₂ · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + ArsenicZinc arsenide 3Zn + 2As → Zn₃As₂ · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + SeleniumZinc selenide Zn + Se → ZnSe · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + BromineZinc bromide Zn + Br₂ → ZnBr₂ · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + TelluriumZinc telluride Zn + Te → ZnTe · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + IodineZinc iodide Zn + I₂ → ZnI₂ · When heated · Try it
- Zinc + PoloniumZinc polonide Zn + Po → ZnPo · Only in a special nuclear lab (it is radioactive) · Try it
- Zinc + WaterZinc oxide + hydrogen gas Zn + H₂O → ZnO + H₂ · Only with hot steam · Try it
It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 73 other metals when melted together.
Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 11 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.