Zinc, chemical symbol Zn, is a corrosion resistant metal with a bluish white color. The price of zinc is controlled mainly by supply and demand of emerging and established markets as well as the input prices. Zinc can be traded on the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Metal Exchange. Zinc is often used to galvanize iron and steel to extend its life. Brass is a zinc alloy that can contain anywhere between 55% and 95% copper. Andreas Sigismund Marggraf, a German chemist, discovered zinc in its elemental form in 1746, although it was used for centuries before. (read more)
Zinc is primarily produced by mining but can be recycled. There are several ores from which zinc can be extracted: zinc silicate (calamine), franklinite, manganese, zinc carbonate (smithsonite), and zinc sulfide (sphalerite). To mine zinc, the ore must first go through froth flotation which breaks the ore into particles with greater concentrations of zinc. The ore is crushed and put into a flotation tank with water, pine oil, and chemicals. The tank then rotates until the zinc remains at the top while all other silicates sink to the bottom. Air is injected into the tanks after the zinc is coated with a water repellent solution. Scrappers are used to remove all of the concentrated zinc from the tank while the remaining mixture is drained of water and oils. It is then combined with lime and heated to form zinc oxide. Chinese Style Hook Series
Under Door Noise Stopper To produce zinc from zinc oxide, it must first be heated to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. This reaction produces zinc and carbon dioxide. Molten lead is then added to the furnace to prevent the zinc and carbon dioxide from rebonding. The molten zinc is cooled to 824 degrees Fahrenheit and cooled for several hours. Iron and other minerals sink to the bottom of the chamber.