Zinc (Lat. Zincum) is a silvery-white metal characterized by its ease of workability, excellent melting properties, corrosion resistance, and a wide range of applications in the manufacturing industry. Zinc readily dissolves in acids and alkalis and is considered a chemically active metal. The metal melts when heated to 420°C and boils at a temperature of 907°C. Interestingly, zinc is the second most abundant metal in the human body after iron.
Zinc (chemical symbol Zn) is commonly used in the home as an anti-corrosion metal, effectively helping to protect various components of appliances from rusting. Large amounts of zinc can be found in both washing machines (up to 3 kg per unit) and refrigerators (up to 1 kg per unit). Smaller amounts of the metal can be found in modern computers and televisions. In ancient times, before zinc was identified as a separate element, its ore was used to make brass, an alloy of zinc and copper.
Today, zinc is used not only as an important component in car batteries and as an element of anti-corrosion coatings in construction, but also as a component in medicines, food supplements, and fertilizers.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc
https://www.britannica.com/science/zinc