Zinc concentrate

Zinc properties.

Zinc chemical properties. Zinc is an active metal. At room temperature, it tarnishes and becomes covered with a layer of zinc oxide.

Reacts with many non-metals: phosphorus, sulfur, oxygen.
When the temperature rises, it interacts with water and hydrogen sulfide, releasing hydrogen.
When fused with alkalis it forms zincates - zinc acid salts.
Reacts with sulfuric acid to form various substances depending on the concentration of the acid.
When heated strongly, it reacts with many gases: gaseous chlorine, fluorine, iodine.
Does not react with nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen

Zinc physical properties.. Zinc is a hard metal, but becomes ductile at 100–150 °C. At temperatures above 210 °C, it can deform. The melting point is very low for metals. Despite this, zinc has good electrical conductivity.

Density - 7.133 g/cm³.
Thermal conductivity - 116 W/(m·K).
Melting point of zinc is 419.6 °C.
Boiling point is 906.2 °C.
Specific heat of vaporization - 114.8 kJ/mol.
Specific heat of fusion - 7.28 kJ/mol.
Specific magnetic susceptibility - 0.175 10-6.
Tensile strength - 200-250 Mn/m².

Occurrence in nature.

Zinc is not found in nature as a native metal. There are 66 known zinc minerals, in particular zincite, sphalerite, willemite, calamine, smithsonite, franklinite. The most common mineral is sphalerite, or zinc blende. The main component of the mineral is zinc sulfide ZnS, and various impurities give this substance all kinds of colors. Due to the difficulty of identifying this mineral, it is called blende (ancient Greek σφαλερός - deceptive). Zinc blende is considered the primary mineral from which other minerals of element No. 30 were formed: smithsonite ZnCO3, zincite ZnO, calamine 2ZnO · SiO2 · H2O. In Altai, one can often find striped "chipmunk" ore - a mixture of zinc blende and brown spar. A piece of such ore from a distance really looks like a hidden striped animal.

Application of zinc.

To protect metals from corrosion. Pure zinc is used to protect metals from corrosion. The base is covered with a thin film. This process is called plating.

In the motor-car industry. Zinc-based alloys are used for decoration of car interiors, in the production of door handles, locks, mirrors and wiper bodies. Zinc oxide is added to car tires, which improves the quality of the rubber. In batteries, accumulators and other chemical current sources, zinc is used as a material for the negative electrode. In the production of electric vehicles, zinc-air batteries are used, which have a high specific energy consumption.

In the production of jewelry. Jewelers add zinc to gold-based alloys. As a result, they are easily forged and become plastic - they firmly connect small parts of the product to each other. Metal also brightens jewelry, which is why it is often used in making white gold.

In medicine. Zinc oxide is used in medicine as an antiseptic. Oxide is added to ointments and other wound healing medicines. Due to its properties, zinc is widely used in various industries. The metal is in demand due to its relatively low price and good physical properties.