Zinc (Zn) is an essential metal of life and one of the four components in the Tetrasomia of Maria in alchemy. The 30th element on the periodic table, zinc has multiple functions in metallurgy, health, alchemy, economy and folklore. It's important to male fertility.
Alchemy: Zinc the Male Principle
In alchemy, zinc embodies the male principle. According to Mary the Jewess (c. 100 AD), known as the first true alchemist, the metals have properties of gender and maintain certain anthropomorphic characteristics.
The belief in metals as living bodies comes from the early days of metal working. By the copper or chalcolithic Age c. 4800 BCE metal workers gather an aura of mystique, embodying the magic of primal elements, chthonic spirits and energies of creation.
At the incipience of Alexandrian alchemy, Mary lists the four metals of the tetrasomia used in the "doubling process of Maria". The doubling can be carried out with mercury, and, in particular, an alloy of the four metals:
Zinc is known since prehistoric times but doesn't receive its formal name until the 1800s. In the 16th century, Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus calls it Zinke, German for prong or tooth.
German chemist Andreas Sigismund Marggraf is credited with discovering pure metallic zinc in 1746. A favorite metal of alchemists through time, zinc burns in air to become a white powder, zinc(II) oxide (zinc oxide, ZnO).
The powder is known as "philosophers' wool" or nix alba (white snow). With prolonged heating zinc oxide turns yellow. Yellow zinc is often used today in metal plating.
Alchemy Symbol for Zinc
**Zinc oxide fumes in contact with acids or alkalis to generate flammable hydrogen gas. Work in well-ventilated area.
**Breathing in zinc sulfate can also irritate the respiratory tract, cause nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, dizziness, depression, metallic taste in the mouth, and death. Exposure by skin contact can damage the skin leading to ulcers, blisters and scarring.
As an alloying agent, zinc forms alloys with several metals, enhancing strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. One of the best known zinc alloys is brass, the amalgamation of copper and zinc.
A gold-colored metal resistant to tarnish, brass is found in isolated cases back to c. 3500 BCE. By the Iron Age c. 500 BCE it production picks up. By 200 BCE it's big business as Romans industriously smelt copper and calamine, a zinc ore, to create brass.
Zinc yellow, a bright greenish yellow pigment derived by reacting zinc oxide with potassium dichromate solutions. The color shades of zinc yellow vary depending on proportions of each component. Discovered 1809, it's used as artists' pigment by 1847, but tends to turn brown.
Acoustically resonant, brass shines in musical instruments such as saxophones, trombones, trumpets and horns, and as tuning pegs on string instruments like guitar. It's said bats can be evicted from an attic by loud brass band music when they return to roost at dawn.
In early times brass is popular with those who want the look of gold without the price, and this is part of the reason zinc finds a prominent place in alchemy. Alchemy is concerned with coloring metals, through alloys, dyes, heat or other processes.
Health Benefits of Zinc
The total amount of zinc in the body is about 1.5 g in women and 2.5 g in men, much of it stored in skeletal muscle in bone. It's crucial for bone health, fortifying the core of the body. Low zinc in men can cause sluggish brain function and low levels of testosterone.
An essential trace element, zinc is vital to numerous physiological functions, including immune system support, wound healing, and DNA synthesis. Zinc is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It may be used to relieve common cold symptoms.
A deficiency in zinc can cause health issues such as
impaired immune function
slow wound healing
hair loss
cognitive dysfunction
Zinc-rich foods include oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, and whole grains.
White zinc oxide powder is the familiar zinc of medicinal skin ointments. It's used today to treat minor skin irritations such as burns, cuts and diaper rash.
Calamine lotion, made from zinc oxide, is used widely in dermatology as a soothing agent especially for poison ivy. It's not recommended for acne due to over-dehydration of skin.
Zinc sulfate (zinc and sulfur) is another fine compound. As early as the 16th century it's prepared on the large scale. Its historical name, "white vitriol", is attributed in the Basil Valentine alchemical writings c. 1620.
Zinc in Metallurgy
In metallurgy zinc is well known as part of the galvanization process. This process involves coating iron or steel with a layer of zinc to prevent corrosion, significantly extending the life of these metals. The practice of galvanization begins in the early 19th century.
Today zinc-aluminum alloys (Zamak) are prized for lightweight and high-strength characteristics by aerospace and automotive industries. Other zinc alloys include nickel silver or German silver, made of copper with nickel and zinc.
It's used in coinage and tableware. In mining folklore Nickel or "little Nick" is a mischievous imp who steals copper or corrupts it into a form which gives no copper.
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