Zinc (Zn)

Silvery-gray metal

Zinc is the metal that protects steel from rusting and is essential for your immune system, and with a completely filled 3d¹⁰ shell, zinc is not technically a transition metal as it lacks partially filled d-orbitals. It is used in galvanization, sunscreen (ZnO), and as a cofactor in over 300 enzymes.

Key metrics

Density7.14g/cm³

Melting point693K

Boiling point1,180K

Electronegativity1.65Pauling

Discovery

1746discovered

Discovered by: Andreas Sigismund Marggraf
Reactivity profile: Reacts with acids
Reactivity: Medium
Bonding: Metallic

Electron configuration

\textcolor{#6b7280}{[Ar]}\; \textcolor{#22c55e}{3_{d}^{10}}\; \textcolor{#ef4444}{4_{s}^{2}}

[Ar] 3d10 4s2

Wave function

\Psi_{\text{Zn}} \approx \frac{1}{\sqrt{30!}} \det \left| \chi_1(\mathbf{r}_1) \dots \chi_{30}(\mathbf{r}_{30}) \right|

Probability density $|\Psi|^2$ across the Zn valence shell.

Crystal structure

Hexagonal Close-Packed

Lattice constantsa 1.00 · b 1.00 · c 1.63

Cell anglesα 90° · β 90° · γ 120°

Coordination number12

Atoms per cell2

Atomic packing factor0.74

Physical properties

Atomic radius: 134 pm
Ionization energy: 906 kJ/mol
Electron affinity: 0 kJ/mol
Crystal structure: Hexagonal close-packed (hcp)

Oxidation states

Acid/base

Basic

Strongly acidicStrongly basic

State at 25 °CSolid

693 K1180 K298 K

Emission spectrum

3 transitions

380450500550600650700780

VioletBlueGreenYellowRed

472.2nmZn IBlue50%

481.1nmZn I (blue)Blue100%

636.2nmZn I (red)Red70%

Dominant line 481.1 nmRange 472–636 nmTransitions 3