Zinc, in commerce also spelter, is a chemical element with symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element of group 12 of the periodic table. In some respects zinc is chemically similar to magnesium:its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2.
Three reasons Zinc stands out
1
Used to coat iron to prevent rusting.
2
Its oxide is the active ingredient in many mineral sunscreens that block UV radiation.
3
It is an essential mineral for immune function, and deficiency affects an estimated two billion people worldwide.
Sacrificial metal and biological necessity
Zinc protects steel by corroding in its place, a process called galvanization. The body uses zinc ions in hundreds of proteins, including enzymes and DNA-binding structures. Brass combines zinc with copper, while zinc oxide lends ultraviolet protection to sunscreens and rubber products.
Recognizing Zinc in Elementle
If Zinc is the mystery element, guesses below atomic number 30 point up and guesses above it point down. Its symbol is Zn: a green letter matches the same position in that symbol, while a yellow letter belongs in another position.
The family clue turns green for transition metal guesses. Compare Copper (Cu), number 29 and Nickel (Ni), number 28: they share the family clue, but their atomic numbers and symbols help you tell them apart.
Values are reference data, not a specification for every temperature, pressure, or allotrope. Unknown properties are left unavailable. Superheavy-element predictions remain uncertain.
The introduction and original editorial story are adapted from Wikipedia contributors via Periodic-Table-JSON. Element descriptions and their adaptations are available under CC BY-SA 3.0. Numerical attributes use the PubChem periodic-table dataset, retrieved September 22, 2026.