Question

Suggest two reasons why zinc and potassium are unlikely to form a solid solution alloy.

Answer 1

Metallic chemical element, chemical symbol Zn, atomic number 30. Zinc is a bluish silver metal, ductile when very pure but brittle otherwise. It forms brass (with copper) and many other alloys. Its major use is in galvanizing iron, steel, and other metals. Zinc is an essential trace element, particularly in red blood cells; in snails, it corresponds to iron in the blood of vertebrates. Zinc oxide is used as a pigment, ultraviolet light absorber (to prevent sunburn), dietary supplement and seed treatment, and photoconductor. Zinc's many other compounds (in which it has valence 2 or, rarely, 1) are used in industrial and consumer applications, including as pesticides, pigments, mordants (see dye), fluxes, and wood preservatives

A bluish-white, lustrous metallic element that is brittle at room temperature but malleable with heating. It is used to form a wide variety of alloys including brass, bronze, various solders, and nickel silver, in galvanizing iron and other metals, for electric fuses, anodes, and meter cases, and in roofing, gutters, and various household objects. Atomic number 30; atomic weight 65.39; melting point 419.4°C; boiling point 907°C; specific gravity 7.133 (25°C); valence 2.

Atomic and ionic properties of zinc
Property Value
Electronic configuration

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 3d10, 4s2

Ionization potentials

1st electron loss

9.39 eV

2d electron loss

17.9 eV

Ionic radius, Zn2+

0.072 nm

Covalent radius (tetrahedral)

0.131 nm

Oxidation potentials

Zn ? Zn2+ + 2e?, E° = 0.76 V

Zn + 4OH? ? ZnO22?

+ 2H2O + 2e?, E° = 1.22 V