Zinc Carbonate is a water insoluble Zinc source that can easily be converted to other Zinc compounds, such as the oxide by heating (calcination). Carbonate compounds also give off carbon dioxide when treated with dilute acids. Zinc Carbonate is generally immediately available in most volumes. The most important use of zinc carbonate is the zinc metal that can be extracted from the ore. Zinc is a blue-gray, metallic element, resistant to air and water corrosion and a good conductor of electricity. It is often used as a protective layer on iron and steel products to prevent them from rusting.