Zinc (Zn)
By Sophie Bradley
Why did you choose this element? What made you find this element interesting?
I chose to do zinc because I had never heard of it before so I wanted to find out about it. I saw photos of it and it looked cool and interesting.
How did Zinc get its name? Does it match up to its abbreviation?
It is believed that Zinc was named by a German alchemist called Paracelsus. At the time, it was called "Zincum" but then it was shortened to "Zinc" either from the German word "Zinke" meaning spike or point for the spiked shapes of the zinc crystals, or the word "Zinn" meaning "tin" as it is metal.
Yes, zinc does match up to its abbreviation because it is "Zn" which is just a shortened version of the word. I think that it is easy to tell that it is zinc.
When was it discovered and who discovered it?
The chemical element zinc was discovered in 1746 by a German scientist, Andreas Marggraf in Germany.
What does it look like?
Zinc is a metallic grey metal with a blue tinge. It is a fairly reactive metal that will combine with oxygen and other non-metals, and will react with dilute acids to release hydrogen.
Below is a photo:
Below is a photo:
What are the properties/characteristics of this element?
Atomic Number: 30
Atomic Weight: 65.38
Melting Point: 419.5°C
Boiling Point: 907°C
Density: 7.134 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
Name some things you found unusual about this element.
Some facts I found interesting in my research were:
- the average human body contains between 2-4 grams of zinc
- when zinc is burned it emits a bright blue/green flame along with zinc oxide gas
- some foods contain zinc such as wheat, beans, nuts, cheese, sunflower seeds, etc.
- zinc is essential for all living things and is important for growth and development