10160. Zinc Sulfide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1314-98-3
Zinc Blende.
SZn; mol wt 97.47.
S 32.90%, Zn 67.11%.
ZnS.

Properties

Occurs in nature as the minerals wurtzite (hexagonal, d 4.087) and sphalerite (cubic, d 4.102). White to grayish-white or yellowish powder. When contg water, it slowly oxidizes in air to sulfate. Insol in water, alkalies. Sol in dil mineral acids. Precipitated zinc sulfide of commerce usually contains 15-20% water of hydration. The dried precipitate may have been heated to 725° in the absence of air to obtain substantial conversion to wurtzite, the form preferred by the pigment industry.

Use

Pigment for paints, oilcloths, linoleum, leather, dental rubber, etc., especially in the form of lithopone; mixed with ZnO as “mineral white.” Anhydr zinc sulfide is used in x-ray screens and with a trace of a radium or mesothorium salt in luminous dials of watches; also television screens.