Zinc
Blue-white metallic element. Occurs in multiple compounds naturally. Five stable isotopes are six radioactive isotopes have been found. Chemically a reactive metal, combines with oxygen and other non-metals, reacts with dilute acids to release hydrogen.
Gallery

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Physical Propertiesmass · density · phase · crystal
Atomic Mass
65.3800Da
Density
7.1340g/cm³
Phase (STP)
Solid
Melting Point
692.7K
Boiling Point
1180.2K
Molar Heat
0.3880J/(mol·K)
Crystal Structure
HEX
Lattice Constant
2.660Å
Atomic Radiiatomic · covalent · van der Waals
Atomic (Empirical)
135.00pm
Covalent
118.00pm
Van der Waals
201.00pm
Electronic Propertieselectronegativity · ionization · affinity
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 3d10 4s2
Electron Shells
2, 8, 18, 2
Electronegativity
1.65Pauling
Electron Affinity
—
1st Ionization Energy
9.4kJ/mol
Oxidation States
+1, +2
Orbital DiagramAufbau · Hund's rule · Pauli exclusion
Full: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2Short: [Ar] 3d10 4s2
Ionization Energies (30 known)
Emission Spectrumvisible range · characteristic spectral lines
Abundanceby mass
Log scale · ppm = parts per million by mass
Biological Role
Present in 300+ enzymes. Essential for immune function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and taste.
Discovery
Discovered By
Known to the ancients.
Named By
—
Year
—
Nuclear Data
Known Isotopes
33
Stable Isotopes
6
Stable Mass Numbers
64, 66, 67, 68, 70, 86
Natural isotopic abundance (IUPAC recommended values)
Isotopes of Zn33 known
| Nuclide | Z | N | Mass (AMU) | Half-life | Decay | Jπ | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54Zn | 30 | 24 | 53.993879 | 1.80 ms | 2p (0.87%) | 0+ | — |
| 55Zn | 30 | 25 | 54.984681 | 19.8 ms | β⁺ (1%), β⁺p (0.91%) | 5/2- | — |
| 56Zn | 30 | 26 | 55.972743 | 32.4 ms | β⁺ (1%), β⁺p (0.88%) | 0+ | — |
| 64Znstable | 30 | 34 | 63.929142 | Stable | 2β⁺ | 0+ | 4917.0000% |
| 66Znstable | 30 | 36 | 65.926034 | Stable | stable (1%) | 0+ | 2773.0000% |
| 67Znstable | 30 | 37 | 66.927127 | Stable | stable (1%) | 5/2- | 404.0000% |
| 68Znstable | 30 | 38 | 67.924844 | Stable | stable (1%) | 0+ | 1845.0000% |
| 70Znstable | 30 | 40 | 69.925319 | Stable | 2β⁻ | 0+ | 61.0000% |
| 84Zn | 30 | 54 | 83.965829 | 54.0 ms | β⁻ (1%), β⁻n (0.73%), 2n | 0+ | — |
| 85Zn | 30 | 55 | 84.973054 | Unknown | β⁻, β⁻n, 2n | 5/2+ | — |
| 86Znstable | 30 | 56 | 85.978463 | Stable | β⁻, β⁻n | 0+ | — |