Symbol

Zn

Atomic Number

30

Atomic Mass

65.38

Family

Group 12 (Iib) Transition Metal Pronunciation

ZINK

Overview

Zinc is a transition metal that occurs in the center of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other. The space between Groups 2 and 13 is occupied by the transition metals. These metals share many physical and chemical properties in common.

Alloys and compounds of zinc have been known since at least 500 B.C. But zinc metal was not known or used until much later. The reason is that zinc boils away or vaporizes easily when heated. Any effort to release zinc from its compounds also causes the metal to evaporate into the air.

Zinc was probably known in Asia before it was discovered in Europe. Ancient books from both India and China refer to zinc products. Such products were imported to Europe from...