Zinc oxide
Description
A fine, white, insoluble powder. Zinc oxide is prepared by the oxidation of pure Zinc or by roasting zinc ore. It is used for a variety of purposes, however, the most important is as a paint pigment called Zinc white. The stable, opaque white powder is permanent and nontoxic. It was known since the Middle Ages but was rarely used as a pigment until 1834 when it was introduced as a watercolor pigment called Chinese white. By the turn of the century, zinc white had replaced Lead white in most paints, even though it had less covering power. Zinc oxide very strongly absorbs Ultraviolet radiation. Medicinally, zinc oxide is often used to treat rashes (e.g., Desinex); mixed with a small amount of iron oxide, it is sold as "Calamine" lotion. Zinc oxide is used as a pigment in oil paints, watercolor paints, ceramic glazes, printing inks, glass colorants, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, ointments, and UV absorber.
Synonyms and Related Terms
zinc white; Chinese white; óxido de cinc (Esp.); oxyde de zinc (Fr.); blanc de zinc (Fr.); Zinkoxid (Deut.); Zinkweiss (Deut.); zinkoxide (Ned.); zinkwit (Ned.); ossido di zinco (bianco di zinco) (It.); leyko toy tsigkoy (Gr.); óxido de zinco (Port.); French zinc; snow white; philosophers' wool; nil alba; flowers of zinc; constant white, Hubbock's white; tutty
Other Properties
Soluble in acids and alkalis. Insoluble in water and ethanol. Normal zinc oxide contains rounded particles, precipitated acicular zinc oxide crystals are needle-like and crossed.
Birefringence is low. First order interference colors.
Fluoresces yellow
| Composition | ZnO |
|---|---|
| CAS | 1314-13-2 |
| Melting Point | 1975 |
| Density | 5.47-5.65 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 81.4 |
| Refractive Index | 2.00; 2.02 |
Hazards and Safety
Noncombustible. Nonpoisonous, but slightly antiseptic. Inhalation or ingestion of dust may cause slight irritation. Zinc oxide fumes from firing may cause metal fume fever. Reacts violently with aluminum and magnesium powders.
Oil paints with zinc oxide may yellow and chalk with UV exposure.
LINK: International Chemical Safety Card
Additional Information
° H. Kuhn, "Zinc White", Artists Pigments, Volume 1, R. Feller (ed.), Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1986.
Comparisons
Characteristics of Common White Pigments
Additional Images
Zinc white
Zinc oxide white
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, Pigment Compendium, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2004
- Artists' Pigments: A Handbook of their History and Characteristics, R.L.Feller, ed., Cambridge University Press, London, Vol. 1, 1986 Comment: H. Kuhn, 'Zinc Oxide'
- Website address 1 Comment: Pigments Through the Ages. - http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/technical/zincwhite.html
- The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: 'Brass', 'Pigments'
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966 Comment: density = 5.65 and ref.index = 2.00; 2.02
- Reed Kay, The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- Thomas B. Brill, Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities, Plenum Press, New York City, 1980 Comment: ref. index = 2.00; 2.02
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_white (Accessed Nov. 29, 2005)
- Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past & Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985
- Book and Paper Group, Paper Conservation Catalog, AIC, 1984, 1989