Oh Zinc!

Zinc is a bluish-white metal. It is brittle at ambient temperatures but is malleable at 100 to 150°C. It is a reasonable conductor of electricity, and burns in air at high red heat with evolution of white clouds of the oxide.

Oh Zinc, wondrous metal! We bask in your gleam!

Zinc-deficient animals require 50% more food to gain the same weight of an animal supplied with adequate amounts of zinc. Zinc is not particularly toxic and is an essential element in the growth of all animals and plants.

Oh Zinc! You bright bespangled angel, favor our vision with your glimmer, bless us with your fearsome properties!

Plating thin layers of zinc on to iron or steel is known as galvanizing and helps to protect the iron from corrosion.

Oh Zinc! Why do you guard your secrets with such cruel resolve? When will we know what wonders lie beneath your lustrous sheen?

Most zinc production is based upon sulphide ores. These are roasted in industrial plants to form zinc oxide, ZnO. This may be reduced with carbon to form zinc metal.

ZnO + C Zn + CO

ZnO + CO Zn + CO2

CO2 + C 2CO

Oh Zinc! We agonize before your perfection! What must these woeful symbols portend? We despair! 

Dissolution of crude zinc oxide, ZnO, in sulphuric acid gives zinc sulphate, ZnSO4 in solution. Cadmium is an impurity and this is removed as a precipitate of cadmium sulphate by the addition of zinc dust. 

Oh Zinc!