Zinc (from German: Zink), also known as spelter, is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table.
Characteristics[]
Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2. The most exploited zinc ore is sphalerite, a zinc sulfide. Zinc production includes froth flotation of the ore, roasting, and final extraction using electricity (electrowinning).