Zn
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemical Element
| Stands for | Zinc |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
Zn stands for Zinc, a chemical element abbreviation.
Galvanizing, the coating of steel with a protective zinc layer, accounts for about half of the zinc (element 30) produced each year. Zinc is also alloyed with copper to make brass, cast into precision die-cast parts, and used as zinc oxide in sunscreen and rubber. It is an essential nutrient for immune function.
Example: Hot-dip galvanized bolts carry a Zn coating at least 50 microns thick.
Usage notes
Zinc was smelted on a large scale at Zawar in Rajasthan, India, centuries before Europeans recognized it; Andreas Sigismund Marggraf is credited with isolating it in Europe in 1746. The name probably comes from German Zink, possibly related to Zinke (prong), describing the jagged crystals of the metal. Zinc lozenges and supplements are dosed in milligrams of elemental zinc.