n.
Metallic chemical element , chemical symbol Zn, atomic number 30.
Zinc is a bluish silver metal , ductile when very pure but brittle otherwise. It forms brass (with copper ) and many other alloys . Its major use is in galvanizing iron, steel, and other metals. Zinc is an essential trace element, particularly in red blood cells; in snails, it corresponds to iron in the blood of vertebrates. Zinc oxide is used as a pigment , ultraviolet light absorber (to prevent sunburn), dietary supplement and seed treatment, and photoconductor. Zinc's many other compounds (in which it has valence 2 or, rarely, 1) are used in industrial and consumer applications, including as pesticides, pigments, mordants (see dye ), fluxes, and wood preservatives.