| 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).
|
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Zn(s)