Zinc
Real Metals · Common · Timeless
Zinc's most important role is galvanization, the coating of steel with zinc to prevent rust. The humble zinc coating on a fence post or a ship's hull might not look impressive, but it represents one of the most economically significant applications of any metal.
Identity
- Symbol
- Zn
- Atomic number
- 30
- Source
- Natural element
- Used in
- Brass, Maillechort
- Aliases
- Zn, Spelter (archaic)
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Bluish-grey, somewhat dull, becomes brittle below room temperature
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 7.13 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 420 °C
- Boiling point
- 907 °C
- Lighter
- Starmetal
- Denser
- Chromium
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Medium
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Tensile strength
- 37 MPa
- Softer
- Tin
- Harder
- Brass
- Workability
- Easy
- Brittleness
- Brittle
- Malleability
- Low
- Ductility
- Low
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- high
- Reactivity
- moderate
Lore & Narrative
Brass, the alloy of copper and zinc, was made in antiquity thousands of years before zinc was isolated as a pure metal. Ancient smiths mixed copper with zinc-bearing ores without knowing the second metal existed.
- Notable uses
- Galvanization, brass alloy, die casting, batteries
- Forge uses
- galvanization, alloys, die casting
- Worldbuilding traits
- protective, common, alloy-base, industrial
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