What is the Difference Between Zinc and Iron

The key difference between zinc and iron is that zinc is important in preventing illnesses by supporting the immune system, whereas iron is important for oxygen transportation to the tissues and organs in our body.

Both zine and iron are important chemical elements having significant roles to play inside our bodies. Iron is the most important chemical element in the body, while zinc is the second most important.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Zinc
3. What is Iron
4. Zinc vs Iron in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Zinc vs Iron

What is Zinc?

Zinc is a chemical element having the atomic number 30 and the chemical symbol Zn. This chemical element resembles magnesium when we consider its chemical properties. This is mainly because both these elements show a +2 oxidation state as the stable oxidation state, and the Mg+2 and Zn+2 cations are of similar size. Moreover, this is the 24th most abundant chemical element on the Earth’s crust.

The standard atomic weight of zinc is 65.38. It appears as a silver-grey solid. This element can be found in group 12 and period 4 in the periodic table. Therefore, it is a d block element and can be categorized as a post-transition metal. The electron configuration of zinc is [Ar]3d104s2. It occurs in the solid state at ordinary temperature and pressure conditions. Its melting point is about 420 degrees Celsius while the boiling point is high (907 degrees Celsius). It occurs in the hexagonal close-packed crystal structure.

Figure 01: Zinc

When considering zinc metal, it is a diamagnetic metal and has a bluish-white lustrous appearance. At most temperatures, this metal is hard and brittle. However, it becomes malleable between 100 and 150 °C. Moreover, this is a fair conductor of electricity. However, it has low melting and boiling points when compared to most other metals.

When considering the occurrence of this metal, the Earth’s crust has about 0.0075% of zinc. We can find this element in soil, seawater, copper, lead ores, etc. Moreover, this element is most likely to be found in combination with sulfur.

Iron is an important mineral that our body requires for growth and development. The body requires iron for the production of hemoglobin which is a protein we need to transport oxygen from the lungs to cells. We also need iron for the production of myoglobin.

What is Iron?

Iron is a chemical element having the chemical symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal that comes in the first transition series. Iron is the most common chemical element on Earth.

Figure 02: Iron

Iron is a solid at ordinary temperature and pressure conditions. The melting point is 1538 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point is 2862 degrees Celsius. The density of this metal is very high and lies around 7.8 g/cm3. When it is liquefied, it has a high density, which is around 6.98 g/cm3. There are two types of crystal structures found in iron: body-centered cubic structure and face-centered cubic structure. The most common oxidation states of iron are +2 and +3. Moreover, there are four common allotropes of iron named as alpha, gamma, theta, and epsilon. We can observe the first three allotropes under ordinary conditions.

There are many uses of iron – mainly as a basic metal for alloy production, as a structural material for constructions, as a supplement for iron deficiency anaemia, etc.

Zinc is a trace mineral that our body needs in small amounts. But we still need this mineral for the better function of almost around 100 enzymes that are necessary for the function of the body. This mineral is important for the creation of DNA, growth of cells, the building of proteins, healing of damaged tissues, and supporting a healthy immune system.

What is the Difference Between Zinc and Iron?

The key difference between zinc and iron is that zinc is important in preventing illnesses by supporting the immune system, whereas iron is important for oxygen transportation to the tissues and organs in our body. Whole grains, milk products, oysters, red meat, poultry, etc., are sources of zinc, while red meat, pork, seafood, beans, dark green leafy vegetables, etc., are sources of iron.

Summary – Zinc vs Iron

Reference:

1. “Zinc: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews.” WebMD.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Zinc fragment sublimed and 1cm3 cube” By Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) – Own work (FAL) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Iron electrolytic and 1cm3 cube” By Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) – Own work (FAL) via Commons Wikimedia