Zn 30

Zinc (Zn)

transition-metal

Period: 4 Group: 12 Block: s

Solid

Standard Atomic Weight

Electron configuration

[Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰

Melting point

419.53 °C (692.68 K)

Boiling point

906.85 °C (1180 K)

Density

7134 kg/m³

Oxidation states

−2, 0, +1, +2

Electronegativity (Pauling)

1.65

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

1746

Atomic radius

135 pm

Details

Name origin German: zink (German for tin).

Discoverers Known to the ancients.

Zinc is a moderately reactive, bluish-white transition metal with a filled 3d shell and chemistry dominated by the +2 oxidation state. It is an essential trace element for living organisms and an important industrial metal, especially for corrosion protection of steel. In minerals it occurs chiefly as sulfide and carbonate ores, and in technology it is valued for sacrificial galvanic behavior, alloy formation, and stable, often colorless Zn²⁺ compounds.

Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous metal. It is brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable at 100 to 150°C. It is a fair conductor of electricity, and burns in air at high red heat with evolution of white clouds of the oxide.

It exhibits superplasticity. Neither zinc nor zirconium is ferromagnetic; but ZrZn2 exhibits ferromagnetism at temperatures below 35°K. It has unusual electrical, thermal, optical, and solid-state properties that have not been fully investigated.

The name derives from the German zink of unknown origin. It was first used in prehistoric times, where its compounds were used for healing wounds and sore eyes and for making brass. Zinc was recognized as a metal as early as 1374.

Although zinc compounds have been used for at least 2,500 years in the production of brass, zinc wasn't recognized as a distinct element until much later. Metallic zinc was first produced in India sometime in the 1400s by heating the mineral calamine (ZnCO3) with wool. Zinc was rediscovered by Andreas Sigismund Marggraf in 1746 by heating calamine with charcoal. Today, most zinc is produced through the electrolysis of aqueous zinc sulfate (ZnSO4).

From the German word Zink, of obscure origin. Centuries before zinc was recognized as a distinct element, zinc ores were used for making brass. An alloy containing 87 percent zinc has been found in prehistoric ruins in Transylvania.

Metallic zinc was produced in the 13th century A.D. India by reducing calamine with organic substances such as wool. The metal was rediscovered in Europe by Marggraf in 1746. He demonstrated that zinc could be obtained by reducing calamine with charcoal.

Read about Zinc on Wikipedia

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 135 pm

Covalent radius 122 pm

Van der Waals radius 139 pm

Metallic radius 121 pm

Density

Molar volume 0.0092 L/mol

Phase at STP solid

Melting point 419.53 °C

Boiling point 906.85 °C

Thermal conductivity 116 W/(m·K)

Specific heat capacity 0.388 J/(g·K)

Molar heat capacity 25.39 J/(mol·K)

Crystal structure hcp

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 1.65

Electronegativity (Allen) 1.59

Electron affinity

Ionization energy (1st)

Ionization energy (2nd)

Ionization energy (3rd)

Ionization energy (4th)

Ionization energy (5th)

Oxidation states −2, 0, +1, +2

Valence electrons 12

Electron configuration

Electron configuration (semantic)

Thermodynamic

Heat of fusion 0.07617764 eV

Heat of vaporization 1.195004 eV

Heat of sublimation 1.351505 eV

Heat of atomization 1.351505 eV

Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 3

Discovery year 1746

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 70 mg/kg

Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 266 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 2

Identifiers

CAS number 7440-66-6

Term symbol

InChI InChI=1S/Zn

InChI Key HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge

Protons 30

Electrons 30

Charge Neutral

Configuration Zn: 3d¹⁰ 4s²

[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²

Orbital diagram

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

10/10

Total electrons: 30 Unpaired: 0

Atomic model

Protons 30

Neutrons 36

Electrons 30

Mass number 66

Stability Stable

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

Emission Visible: 380–750 nm

Isotope Distribution

Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life
66 Stable	65.92603381 ± 0.00000094	27.7300%	Stable
67 Stable	66.92712775 ± 0.00000096	4.0400%	Stable
68 Stable	67.92484455 ± 0.00000098	18.4500%	Stable

Measured

Phase / State

Solid 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 394.5 °C below melting point (419.53 °C)

Melting point 419.53 °C

Boiling point 906.85 °C

Below melting by 394.5 °C

0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K

Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Melting

Boiling

25°C

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature

419.53 °C

Boiling point Literature

906.85 °C

Current phase Calculated
Solid

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature

0.07617764 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature

1.195004 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Heat of sublimation Literature

1.351505 eV

Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point

Density

Reference density Literature

7134 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Calculated

7134 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Atomic Spectra

Showing 10 of 30 Atomic Spectra. Sorted by ion charge (ascending).

Lines Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Total lines	Transition probabilities	Level designations
Zn I	0	570	16	564
Zn II	+1	96	22	90
Zn III	+2	39	0	0
Zn IV	+3	119	0	0

NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Levels
Zn I	0	380
Zn II	+1	94
Zn III	+2	316
Zn IV	+3	245
Zn V	+4	158
Zn VI	+5	193
Zn VII	+6	134
Zn VIII	+7	5
Zn IX	+8	2
Zn X	+9	2

NIST Levels Holdings →

30 Zn 65.38

Zinc — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

[Ar]4s23d10

Energy levels 2 8 18 2

Oxidation states -2, 0, +1, +2

HOMO 4s n=4 · l=0 · m=0

Zinc — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview

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30 Zn 65.38

Zinc — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Primitive Hexagonal · Pearson hP2

Experimental

Pearson hP2

Coord. № 12

Packing 66.003%

Zinc — Crystal Structure Visualizer Preview

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Ionic Radii

Charge	Coordination	Spin	Radius
+2	4	N/A	60 pm
+2	5	N/A	68 pm
+2	6	N/A	74 pm
+2	8	N/A	90 pm

Compounds

65.400 u

Zn+2

65.400 u

64.929 u

68.927 u

61.934 u

62.933 u

65.926 u

67.925 u

66.927 u

Zn+2

64.929 u

70.928 u

71.927 u

Zn+2

65.926 u

63.929 u

69.925 u

Isotopes (3)

Naturally occurring zinc contains five stable isotopes. Sixteen other unstable isotopes are recognized.

Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay mode
66 Stable	65.92603381 ± 0.00000094	27.7300% ± 0.9800%	Stable	stable
67 Stable	66.92712775 ± 0.00000096	4.0400% ± 0.1600%	Stable	stable
68 Stable	67.92484455 ± 0.00000098	18.4500% ± 0.6300%	Stable	stable

66 Stable

Atomic mass (u) 65.92603381 ± 0.00000094

Natural abundance 27.7300% ± 0.9800%

Half-life Stable

Decay mode

stable

67 Stable

Atomic mass (u) 66.92712775 ± 0.00000096

Natural abundance 4.0400% ± 0.1600%

Half-life Stable

Decay mode

stable

68 Stable

Atomic mass (u) 67.92484455 ± 0.00000098

Natural abundance 18.4500% ± 0.6300%

Half-life Stable

Decay mode

stable

Spectral Lines

Wavelength (nm)	Intensity	Ion stage	Type	Transition	Accuracy	Source
387.9141 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.7d 1D	Measured	NIST
396.543 nm	78000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.8s 1S	Measured	NIST
411.31114 nm	81000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.6d 1D	Measured	NIST
429.2883 nm	32000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 3P* → 3d10.4s.5s 1S	Measured	NIST
429.8325 nm	49000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.7s 1S	Measured	NIST
455.326 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.30p 1P*	Measured	NIST
455.548 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.29p 1P*	Measured	NIST
455.795 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.28p 1P*	Measured	NIST
456.073 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.27p 1P*	Measured	NIST
456.388 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.26p 1P*	Measured	NIST
456.745 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.25p 1P*	Measured	NIST
457.155 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.24p 1P*	Measured	NIST
457.623 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.23p 1P*	Measured	NIST
458.167 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.22p 1P*	Measured	NIST
458.796 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.21p 1P*	Measured	NIST
459.541 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.20p 1P*	Measured	NIST
460.423 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.19p 1P*	Measured	NIST
461.482 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.18p 1P*	Measured	NIST
462.768 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.17p 1P*	Measured	NIST
462.980809 nm	390000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.5d 1D	Measured	NIST
464.351 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.16p 1P*	Measured	NIST
466.559 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.15p 3P*	Measured	NIST
468.013589 nm	540000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 3P* → 3d10.4s.5s 3S	Measured	NIST
469.143 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.14p 3P*	Measured	NIST
472.215691 nm	1000000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 3P* → 3d10.4s.5s 3S	Measured	NIST
472.527 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.13p 3P*	Measured	NIST
477.071 nm	N/A	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.12p 3P*	Measured	NIST
481.053206 nm	1100000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 3P* → 3d10.4s.5s 3S	Measured	NIST
506.866 nm	77000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.9p 3P*	Measured	NIST
506.943 nm	21000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.9p 3P*	Measured	NIST
506.998 nm	3300	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.9p 3P*	Measured	NIST
518.19819 nm	120000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.6s 1S	Measured	NIST
530.866 nm	380000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.8p 3P*	Measured	NIST
531.017 nm	160000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.8p 3P*	Measured	NIST
531.101 nm	56000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.8p 3P*	Measured	NIST
577.205 nm	490000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.7p 3P*	Measured	NIST
577.5452 nm	210000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.7p 3P*	Measured	NIST
577.7033 nm	85000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.7p 3P*	Measured	NIST
623.78967 nm	93000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
623.9169 nm	38000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.4d 3D	Measured	NIST
636.23458 nm	240000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.4p 1P* → 3d10.4s.4d 1D	Measured	NIST
647.9184 nm	55000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 1S → 3d10.4s.7p 1P*	Measured	NIST
692.8295 nm	40000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
693.8449 nm	20000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST
694.3184 nm	7000	Zn I	emission	3d10.4s.5s 3S → 3d10.4s.6p 3P*	Measured	NIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)

Covalent radius (Bragg)

Van der Waals Radii

Batsanov

Alvarez

UFF

MM3

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)

Metallic radius (C12)

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev

Pettifor

Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh

Miedema

Gunnarsson–Lundqvist

Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability

Dipole polarizability (unc.)

C₆

C₆ (Gould–Bučko)

Chemical Affinity

Proton affinity

Gas basicity

Miedema Parameters

Miedema molar volume

Miedema electron density

Supply Risk & Economics

Production concentration

Relative supply risk

Reserve distribution

Political stability (top producer)

Political stability (top reserve)

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

Melting point	692.68 K
Boiling point	1180.15 K

Oxidation State Categories

−2 extended

+1 extended

+2 main

0 extended

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (7)

n	Orbital	σ
1	s	0.6755
2	p	3.902
2	s	8.172
3	d	16.1217
3	p	14.6307
3	s	13.7808
4	s	24.0348

Crystal Radii Detail (4)

Charge	CN	r_crystal (pm)	Origin
2	IV	74
2	V	82
2	VI	88	from r^3 vs V plots,
2	VIII	104	calculated,

Isotope Decay Modes (49)

Isotope	Mode	Intensity
54	2p	87%
55	B+	100%
55	B+p	91%
56	B+	100%
56	B+p	88%
57	B+	100%
57	B+p	87%
58	B+	100%
58	B+p	0.7%
59	B+	100%

X‑ray Scattering Factors (504)

Energy (eV)	f₁	f₂
10	—	2.21675
10.1617	—	2.11915
10.3261	—	2.02585
10.4931	—	1.93665
10.6628	—	1.85138
10.8353	—	1.76986
11.0106	—	1.69194
11.1886	—	1.63293
11.3696	—	1.57784
11.5535	—	1.5246

Additional Data

Estimated Crustal Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's crust.

7.0×101 milligrams per kilogram

References (1)

[5] Zinc https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele030.html

Estimated Oceanic Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's oceans.

4.9×10-3 milligrams per liter

References (1)

[5] Zinc https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele030.html

Sources

Sources of this element.

The principal ores of zinc are sphalerite (sulfide), smithsonite (carbonate), calamine (silicate), and franklinite (zinc, manganese, iron oxide). One method of zinc extraction involves roasting its ores to form the oxide and reducing the oxide with coal or carbon, with subsequent distillation of the metal.

References (1)

[6] Zinc https://periodic.lanl.gov/30.shtml

References

(9)

1 PubChem

Data deposited in or computed by PubChem

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2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)

Zinc

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

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4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

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License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.

5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy

Zinc

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

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License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html

6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy

Zinc

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

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7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory

Zinc

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

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8 PubChem Elements

Zinc

This section provides all form of data related to element Zinc.

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9 PubChem Elements

Zinc

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

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Last updated: May 1, 2026

Data verified: May 12, 2026

Content is reviewed against latest scientific data.