History+of+Zinc_leila_wiki

__**History**__

Exactly when Zinc was discovered, no one really knows but we do know that it has been used for hundreds of years. The Romans used it in brass, which is an alloy of zinc, in 30 BC. Also extractions of impure zinc were used in Indian and China in 1000 AD. In the 14th century the Hindus were sure that it was its own metal so they defined it seperate from the & ancient metals. In the West the discovery of zinc is often credited to a German man named Andreas Magnus.

__**Properties of Zinc**__

Zinc is a bluish-white metal but zinc oxide is a more like a white powder. It is also the 4th most common metal and teh 23rd most common element on earth. It occurs naturally in water, air, and soil. If water is too contaminated with zinc it may cause harm to the human body. Zinc does tarnish naturally. Zinc combines with oxygen and non-metals and it reacts dilute acids to release hydrogen. The countries with the main zinc mines are: Canada, Russia, Australia, USA, Peru.

__**Uses**__

Zinc is used in many things like: micronutrients for humans. plants, and animals cosmetics pharmeceuticals brass construstion material coating metal, iron, and steel luminous dials and X-ray and TV screens

__**Compounds with Zinc**__

One of the most common compounds with zinc is zinc oxide ZnO which is a mixture of zinc and oxygen. It comes in the form of white powder and is used in paints, ribber products, plastics, soap, battery covers, and printing inks. There is also ZnSO-4, zinc sulfate, which is used in weed killers. ZnS, zinc sulfide, is luminescent. There is also ZnCl-2, zinc chloride.

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