testo=<B>Zinc</B><BR>The beginning of the production of zinc seems to be discussed a lot since some people claim it was first isolated by the Common era whereas other assert it was first produced by the Chinese in the 15th century. Its industrial production began in England in the course of the 18th century.<BR>The Romans were the first to produce copper-zinc alloys in Europe and thus, discovered the possibility to obtain an alloy with a gold -like appearance mixing copper minerals with zinc minerals. Pure zinc is used for zinc coating of iron by hot-dip galvanizing, galvanization or spraying and electric batteries as well as base metal for industrial alloys. In World War I, because of shortcomings of metals used for producing weapons, some countries substituted their copper, bronze and silver coins for aluminium and or zinc ones.