Discovered in: 13th Century C.E.

Discovered by: Unknown, but in India

Description: The meaning is unknown, but its origin is German. Zinc is a lustrous, bluish-white metal. It is brittle at room temperature, but becomes malleable when heated to 100 degrees Celsius. It is mildly reactive with air, acids and alkalis. Zinc is a very useful metal, and used to plate iron, and protect it from corrosion, in a process known as galvanization. Zinc also is used in many other alloys, such as brass and solder. An alloy of zinc and aluminum is nearly as strong as steel and as easy to mold as plastic. Compounds of zinc are used in batteries, tires, cement, paint, rubber, cosmetics, plastics, printing inks, soap, textiles, fluorescent lights, luminous dials, and TV screens. Calamine lotion contains zinc. Many coins contain zinc. The U.S. penny is mostly zinc with a bronze plating.

Biological Rating: Critical for life processes in plants and animals.

Biological use: Zinc is a critical trace element for all species. It is a key component in dozens of enzymes. Zinc is important in reproduction and sexual maturation. The metabolism requires zinc to function. An animal with a zinc deficiency needs 50 % more food to gain the same weight as an animal with adequate zinc. Zinc is important to the immune system and zinc gluconate has recently become a popular cold medicine. Zinc is important to the senses of taste and smell, bone and skin development, .

Percentage Amount in the Human Body: 0.003 %

Obtained from: Zinc is mined from several different minerals, including sphalerite (zinc sulfide), smithsonite (zinc carbonate), hemimorphite and zincite. Other zinc-bearing minerals include calamine and willemite. It is mined in Canada, Australia, the USA, China, Peru.