my report on Zinc

zinc

what is zinc?
zinc is a very common metal found almost everywhere in the earth, water, and air. it may be not uncommon, but it makes up just a tiny portion of the earths crust, about an average of two or three ounces in each ton of rock. zinc has been used for hundreds of years, mixed with copper. when mixed with copper, it becomes an alloy called brass. zinc is used in many, many, many different uses. it can't be used for jewlery, because although it is quite shiny when first found, when exposed to oxygen, it's outer shell quickly dulls. Zinc is used for galvanization, the coatin of other metals with zinc to help slow corrosion. Zinc is used also for making batteries, quickening the process of making rubber for tires, making pennys, and making sunsccreen. Thre reason it's used for sunscreen is because Zinc when mixed with oxygen makes Zinc oxide. Zinc Oxide is a outer coating that protects the Zinc from corrosion, but, it will still corrode easily. Zinc Oxide also can help protect humans (us) from sun burn. thats whay many of the sunscreen lotions you see today have Zinc inside. Zinc is a very usefull metal, but thats not all, Zinc is an element. It's Zn .