The word "zinc" is spelled with a "z" and an "i" followed by a "n" and a "c". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /zɪŋk/. The "z" sound is a voiced alveolar fricative, made by placing the tongue behind the upper teeth and blowing air through the narrow gap. The "ɪ" sound is a short vowel, while the "ŋ" sound is a velar nasal that is made by squeezing the back of the tongue against the soft palate. The final "k" sound is made by releasing a burst of air from the back of the mouth.
Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and the atomic number 30. It is a bluish-white, lustrous metal that is relatively brittle at room temperature but becomes malleable and ductile when heated between 100-150 °C. Zinc is commonly found in nature and is considered an essential trace element for living organisms. In terms of its physical properties, zinc has a low melting point and is a good conductor of electricity, making it useful in a variety of applications.
Zinc has many important uses across multiple industries. It is primarily used as a protective coating for iron and steel to prevent corrosion by the process of galvanization. This application is widely employed in the construction, automotive, and infrastructure sectors. Furthermore, zinc is a critical component in alloys, such as brass and bronze, which have a variety of industrial and decorative applications. Additionally, zinc is an essential nutrient in human and animal diets, playing a crucial role in several biological processes including cell division and immune function.
From a health perspective, zinc supplements are often used to prevent or treat zinc deficiency, which can lead to impaired growth, delayed wound healing, and weakened immune system. Food sources rich in zinc include meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, and seeds. In summary, zinc is a versatile element with significant industrial applications, as well as a vital dietary requirement for maintaining health and well-being.
A metallic element, symbol Zn, atomic weight 65.37, bluish white in color, malleable and ductile. A number of salts of zinc are used in medicine. Crude commercial zinc is called spelter. For the official salts of zinc, see under zincum.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• A light metal of a bluish white colour, harder than lead, and much used as a substitute for it in the arts, in architecture, &c., in the form of plates, rolled sheets, and leaves; alloyed with copper it forms the well-known compound brass; spelter.
• To coat or cover with zinc.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "zinc" is derived from the German word "Zink", which is believed to come from the Persian word "sing", meaning "stone". The Persians used the term to refer to a type of zinc ore. The origin of the Persian word "sing" is uncertain, but it may have connections to the Sanskrit word "jambha", meaning "tooth". The word "zinc" itself was first used in English in the 17th century.