Is Zinc a Metal or a Nonmetal? (+3 Surprising Facts to Know)

Zinc is a metal. It is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous metal that is relatively reactive and has moderate electrical conductivity. ¹

Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.

So let’s dive right into it.

Explanation: Why is zinc a metal?

Zinc is a metal because it has the properties of a typical metal. Metals are characterized by their ability to conduct heat and electricity, their luster or shine, and their malleability or ability to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking.

Zinc meets all of these criteria. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity, which is why it is used in electrical components such as batteries and wires. ²

Zinc also has a distinctive shine, which is why it is often used as a coating for other metals to protect them from corrosion. Additionally, zinc is malleable and ductile, meaning it can be easily shaped into various forms.

Overall, zinc’s combination of physical and chemical properties make it a typical metal, which is why it is classified as such.

Properties of zinc that classify it as a metal

Here are some of the key properties of zinc that classify it as a metal.

• Conductivity: Zinc is a good conductor of heat and electricity. This means that it can transfer heat or electricity from one point to another with relative ease, making it useful for electrical wiring and other applications that require efficient energy transfer.
• Malleability: Zinc is a malleable metal, which means that it can be easily hammered or pressed into different shapes without breaking. ³ This property makes it useful for applications where a flexible or adaptable material is needed, such as in metalworking and construction.
• Ductility: Like its malleability, zinc is also ductile, meaning it can be drawn into thin wires without breaking. This property makes it useful for electrical wiring and other applications where a material that can be easily shaped and manipulated is required.
• Luster: Zinc has a distinctive luster or shine, which makes it visually appealing and useful for decorative purposes. ⁴ It is often used as a coating on other metals to protect them from corrosion while also providing a visually attractive finish.
• High melting point: Zinc has a relatively high melting point compared to many other metals. This property makes it useful for applications that require materials that can withstand high temperatures, such as in the production of alloys and other materials. ⁵

Overall, these properties are characteristic of metals, and are what classify zinc as a metal in the periodic table.

How is zinc different from other metals?

Here are a few ways in which zinc is different from other metals:

• Reactivity: Zinc is less reactive than many other metals, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. This means that it is less likely to undergo chemical reactions with other substances, which can make it more stable and longer-lasting in certain applications.
• Toxicity: Zinc is relatively non-toxic compared to many other metals. In fact, it is an essential nutrient for humans and other organisms, and is required for a wide range of biological processes. However, excessive exposure to zinc can still be harmful, particularly to the respiratory system. ^{6 7 8 9}
• Isotopes: Zinc has a relatively large number of stable isotopes compared to other metals, with a total of five stable isotopes. ¹⁰ This property makes it useful for applications such as isotopic labeling and tracer studies. ¹¹

Overall, while zinc shares many properties with other metals, it also has some unique characteristics that make it well-suited for certain applications.

Further reading

Is Gallium a Metal, Nonmetal or Metalloid?
Is Arsenic a Metal, Nonmetal or Metalloid?
Is Selenium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Bromine a Metal or Nonmetal?
Why is Krypton a Noble Gas? 

About author

Jay Rana

Jay is an educator and has helped more than 100,000 students in their studies by providing simple and easy explanations on different science-related topics. He is a founder of Pediabay and is passionate about helping students through his easily digestible explanations.

Read more about our Editorial process.

1. Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. (n.d.). Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. https://periodic.lanl.gov/30.shtml
2. Zinc – Wikipedia. (2014, April 25). Zinc – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc
3. P. (n.d.). Zinc | Zn (Element) – PubChem. Zinc | Zn (Element) – PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Zinc
4. Smith, W., & Goodwin, F. (2017). Hot Dip Coatings. Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-803581-8.09214-6
5. Lynch, R. (2001). Zinc: Alloying, Thermomechanical Processing, Properties, and Applications. Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology, 9869–9883. https://doi.org/10.1016/b0-08-043152-6/01786-1
6. Zinc. (2019, November 1). The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/zinc/
7. Sandstead, H. H. (1981). Zinc in Human Nutrition. Disorders of Mineral Metabolism, 93–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-135301-8.50009-1
8. Sangeetha, V. J., Dutta, S., Moses, J. A., & Anandharamakrishnan, C. (2022, September 4). Zinc nutrition and human health: Overview and implications. EFood, 3(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/efd2.17
9. Zinc and your health. (n.d.). Zinc – Health Benefits and How Much You Need | Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/zinc
10. Moynier, F. (2018). Zinc Isotopes. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series, 1524–1527. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39312-4_215
11. Isotopes of zinc – Wikipedia. (2011, February 1). Isotopes of Zinc – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_zinc