Editing Periodic Table of Dragons (section)

==Zinc 30==
Zinc dragons look similar to many other varieties of dragon, being of average size with a dull silver luster, though shortly after molting their scales are a brilliant blue-silver. However, they are easily identified at closer ranges by the mottling on their scales, said to look like large overlapping crystals or flakes. They can be identified tentatively at a distance by their hexagonal head crests, though it is inadvisable to depend on this unless using a telescope.

The scales of Zincs are highly prized by alchemists for a wide range of applications, from glowing paint to preventing rust in objects of iron and steel. Small amounts of ground scale, administered to a sick or injured person, can even speed healing. As such they are zealously harvested whenever they are shed. Indeed, those Zincs who regularly interact with humans have amassed fortunes by collecting their molted scales and selling them.

Zinc dragons crossbreed easily with many varieties of dragon, including the dreaded Mercury dragons, but the most interesting hybrids come from mating with either Manganese or Copper dragons. These two pairings produce individuals with astonishingly powerful lighting attacks, moreso than Coppers and far more than Manganeses, capable of turning an armored human to slag with a single discharge.

When kept wet for extended periods of time, Zincs develop 'white rust' or 'wet stain,' which if left untreated will cause their scales to rot away, causing death in extreme cases. This malady is most common in young and newly-molted dragons, those with older scales seem to have greatly enhanced resistance. It should be noted that white rust only occurs when there is liquid water present, with humidity having no effect whatsoever.

Zinc dragons avoid Lead dragons at all costs, remaining in a Lead dragon's aura for more than a few hours results in 'zinc pest,' an irreversible disease that is similar to white rust, but rather than only affecting the scales of the dragon, it will cause even those scales that grow back to crumble to dust.