Zinc (Zn)
Element 30 · Transition metal · atomic mass 65.38 u · group 12, period 4
Electron shells: 2, 8, 18, 2
Zinc's main job is sacrificial: galvanised steel survives because the zinc corrodes instead. It is also an essential trace element in hundreds of human enzymes.
A galvanised nail rusts last — the zinc coating corrodes first to protect the iron underneath.
- Atomic number
- 30
- Atomic mass
- 65.38 u
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰
- Group · period · block
- 12 · 4 · d
- Oxidation states
- +2
- Electronegativity
- 1.65 (Pauling)
- Melting point
- 420 °C
- Boiling point
- 907 °C
- Density
- 7.134 g/cm³
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Appearance
- Blue-grey metal
- Discovered
- Andreas Sigismund Marggraf, 1746
30 protons, and 30 electrons when neutral
IUPAC standard atomic weight
Zinc group
What Zinc is used for
- Galvanising steel
- Brass alloys
- Die-cast components
- Sunscreen and dietary supplements
Atomic structure of Zinc
A neutral zinc atom has 30 protons and 30 electrons. Its most common isotope carries about 35 neutrons, which is where the mass number 65 comes from. Change the neutron count and you have a different isotope of zinc; change the proton count and you have a different element entirely.
Those electrons fill shells from the inside out: 2, 8, 18, 2. In orbital notation that is [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰. As a d-block element its valence count is variable, which is why it can form compounds in several oxidation states.
3D electron orbitals
See where Zinc's electrons actually are — a cloud of 26,000 points sampled from the probability density |ψ|², not a cartoon of a lobe.
Where Zinc sits in the periodic table
Discovery and naming
Zinc was discovered by Andreas Sigismund Marggraf in 1746. Its name comes from German Zink, possibly from Zinke, "prong", which is also why its symbol (Zn) does not match its English name.
Keep exploring
Atomic weight from IUPAC/CIAAW; physical properties from PubChem (US National Library of Medicine). Values that have never been measured are shown as “not measured” rather than estimated.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the atomic mass of Zinc?
The standard atomic weight of Zinc is 65.38 u, as published by IUPAC's Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Zinc have?
Zinc has 30 protons, because the atomic number is the proton count and that is what makes an atom Zinc at all. A neutral Zinc atom has the same number of electrons, 30. The neutron count varies by isotope; the most common one has about 35, since 65 − 30 = 35.
What is the electron configuration of Zinc?
The electron configuration of Zinc is [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰. Its electrons are arranged 2, 8, 18, 2 across 4 shells.
Is Zinc a metal?
Yes. Zinc is classified as a transition metal, on the metallic side of the table.
What group and period is Zinc in?
Zinc is in group 12 (the zinc group), period 4, in the d-block. The group is its column and the period is its row.
What is the charge of Zinc?
Zinc most commonly forms a 2+ ion. Like most transition metals it has several accessible oxidation states, so the charge depends on the compound.
What is the melting point of Zinc?
Zinc melts at 420 °C and boils at 907 °C. That puts it in the solids at everyday temperatures.
What is Zinc used for?
Galvanising steel, Brass alloys, Die-cast components, Sunscreen and dietary supplements. Zinc's main job is sacrificial: galvanised steel survives because the zinc corrodes instead.
Who discovered Zinc, and where does its name come from?
Zinc (Zn) was discovered by Andreas Sigismund Marggraf in 1746. The name comes from German Zink, possibly from Zinke, "prong".