Detailed Product Description:

A fine silver gray powder.  It is somewhat less dense than iron and has a

hexagonal crystal structure.  It is chemically similar to magnesium.  

Odorless, insoluble in water but soluble in most acids such as hydrochloric,

sulfuric and phosphoric. 

Grade/Purity:

This is Reagent Grade material with minimum purity of 99%.

Background:

Zinc is a moderately reactive metal and strong reducing agent.  The surface

of the pure metal tarnishes quickly, eventually forming a protective passivating

layer of the basic zinc carbonate by reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide. 

This layer helps prevent further reaction with air and water.

Zinc burns in air with a bright bluish-green flame, giving off fumes of zinc

oxide.  Zinc reacts readily with acids, alkalis and other non-metals.  Strong

acids, such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, can remove the passivating layer

and the subsequent reaction with water releases hydrogen gas.

The metal is most commonly used as an anti-corrosion agent.  Zinc is more

reactive than iron or steel and thus will attract almost all local oxidation until

it completely corrodes away.  A protective surface layer of oxide and carbonate

forms as the zinc corrodes.  This protection lasts even after the zinc layer is

scratched but degrades through time as the zinc corrodes away.

The relative reactivity of zinc and its ability to attract oxidation to itself also

makes it a good sacrificial anode in cathodic protection.  Zinc acts as the anode

(the negative terminal) by slowly corroding away as it passes electric current

to the steel pipeline.  A zinc disc attached to a ship's iron rudder will slowly

corrode while the rudder stays un-attacked.  Other similar uses include a plug

of zinc attached to a propeller or the metal protective guard for the keel of the ship.

Zinc powder is sometimes used as a propellant in model rockets.  When a

compressed mixture of 70% zinc and 30% sulfur powder is ignited there is a

violent chemical reaction.  This produces zinc sulfide, together with large

amounts of hot gas, heat, and light.   

Precautions:

Dangerous fire and explosion risk.  May form explosive mixtures

in air.  Download, read, and understand MSDS precautions before

using this substance.

Click here to download MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

Packaging:

Contents of 200 grams comes packed in 250ml sized wide-mouth