Atomic number 30
Zinc
Transition metal
In the real world
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 65.380
- Group
- 12
- Period
- 4
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.65
- Common ox. states
- +2
Properties
Electron configuration
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²
- Ionization energy
- 906.4 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- -58.0 kJ/mol
- Melting point
- 692.68 K (419.5 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1180.00 K (906.9 °C)
How dangerous is it?
1/5 · Low risk
Safe to handle as the solid metal, the same zinc that coats galvanized nails. The caution is freshly made zinc fume, which can cause a temporary flu-like feeling.
- ToxicImmediate and cumulative
Breathing freshly made zinc fume can cause metal fume fever, a temporary flu-like reaction that passes. (the fresh fume, not the solid metal)
The fume is controlled with ventilation when heating or welding zinc; the solid metal is safe to hold.
How it bonds
Zinc has a filled 3d shell, so it behaves more like a main-group metal than a true transition metal - only the +2 state, all compounds colorless. Zn²⁺ is the active site in many enzymes (carbonic anhydrase, alcohol dehydrogenase). Galvanizing = coating steel in zinc to protect it from rusting.
