Nomenclature
CAS number: 1314-13-2
Flowers of zinc; philosopher's wool; zinc white; C.I. Pigment White 4; C.I. 77947.
OZn; mol wt 81.41.
O 19.65%, Zn 80.35%.
ZnO.
Description and references
Occurs as the mineral zincite. Prepd by vaporization of metallic zinc and oxidation
of the vapors with preheated air (French process); also from franklinite,
(American process) or from zinc sulfide: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A.
Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed.,
1975) pp 882-888. Purification: Depew, US 2372367 (1945 to American Zinc, Lead & Smelting). The medicinal grade contains 99.5% or more ZnO; technical
grades contain 90-99% ZnO and a few tenths of 1% of lead. See
also: Colour Index vol. 4 (3rd ed., 1971) p 4687. Efficacy as sunblock: S. R.
Pinnell et al., Dermatol. Surg. 26, 309 (2000).
Properties
White or yellowish-white, odorless powder. Hexagonal
crystals: d 5.67.
Also reported as d420 5.607. Sublimes at normal pressure. nD 2.0041, 2.0203. American process zinc oxide pH 6.95. French process zinc oxide
pH 7.37. Practically insol in water. Sol in dil acetic or mineral
acids, ammonia, ammonium carbonate, fixed alkali hydroxide solns.Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are metal fume fever (chills, muscle aches, nausea, fever, dry throat,
cough, weakness, lassitude); metallic taste; headache; blurred vision;
low back pain; vomiting; fatigue; malaise; tight chest, dyspnea, rales,
decreased pulmonary function. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140,
1997) p 338.Derivative
Calamine.
Nomenclature
Eczederm (Quinoderm). Description and references
Zinc oxide with a small proportion of ferric
oxide as a coloring agent.
Properties
Pink powder. Insol in water. Almost completely
sol in mineral acids.Use
As pigment in white paints instead of lead carbonate;
in cosmetics, driers, quick-setting cements; with syrupy phosphoric
acid or ZnCl
2 in dental cements; manuf opaque glass and
certain types of transparent glass; manuf enamels, automobile tires,
white glue, matches, white printing inks, porcelains, zinc green;
as a reagent in analytical chemistry; in electrostatic copying paper;
as flame retardant; in electronics as semiconductor.
Therapeutic Category
Astringent; topical protectant; ultraviolet screen.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Antiseptic; astringent; topical protectant.
Keywords
Astringent; Topical Protectant; Ultraviolet Screen