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Atomic: M.A.C. | Reference
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Reactions of Zinc
Reactions with water
Zinc does not react with water.
Reactions with air
Zinc tarnishes in moist air. Zinc metal burns in air to form the white zinc(II) oxide, a material that turns yellow on prolonged heating.
  2Zn(s) + O2(g)2ZnO(s)
Reactions with halogens
Zinc reacts with bromine and iodine to form zinc(II) dihalides.
  Zn(s) + Br2(g)ZnBr2(s)
  Zn(s) + I2(g)ZnI2(s)
Reactions with acids
Zinc dissolves slowly in dilute sulphuric acid to form solutions containing the aquated Zn(II) ion together with hydrogen gas.
  Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq)Zn2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + H2(g)
The reactions of zinc with oxidizing acids such as nitric acid, HNO3, are complex and depend upon precise conditions.
Reactions with bases
Zinc dissolves in aqueous alkalis such as potassium hydroxide, KOH, to form zincates such as [Zn(OH)4]2- (although other species are also present).
 
Reduction Potentials
Balanced half-reaction E0 / V
Zn2+ + 2e-Zn(s) -0.763
ZnO22- + 4H+ + 2e-Zn(s) + 2H2O +0.441
HZnO2- + 3H+ + 2e-Zn(s) + 2H2O -0.054
ZnO22- + 2H2O + 2e-Zn(s) + 4OH- -1.216
Zn(OH)2(s) + 2e-Zn(s) + 2OH- -1.245
ZnS(s) + 2e-Zn(s) + S2- -1.40
Zn(NH3)42+ + 2e-Zn(s) + 4NH3 -1.04
Zn(CN)42+ + 2e-Zn(s) + 4CN- -1.26