Aug 20 2013
Description
Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula ZnO. It occurs as a white powder that is nearly insoluble in water. It crystallizes in two main forms, hexagonal wurtzite and cubic zincblende. The wurtzite structure is more stable that the zinc blende structure. It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor of the II-VI semiconductor group.
Applications
Zinc oxide finds applications in the following:
- It is used for preventing corrosion in nuclear reactors
- It is used as a pigment in paint
- Coatings
- Food additive
- Cigarette filters
- Medicine
- Ceramic industry
- Rubber manufacture.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of zinc oxide are provided in the table below:
| Chemical Properties |
| Chemical Formula |
ZnO |
| Molecular Weight |
81.39 |
| CAS No. |
1314-13-2 |
| Group |
Zinc – 12
Oxygen - 16 |
| Crystal Structure |
Hexagonal |
| Lattice Constant |
a = 3.2495 Å
c = 5.2069 Å |
Electrical Properties
The electrical properties of zinc oxide are provided in the table below:
| Electrical Properties |
| Dielectric Constant |
8.5 |
| Band Gap |
3.4 eV |
| Intrinsic carrier concentration |
< 106 cm3 |
| Electron Mobility |
200 cm2/Vs |
| Hole Mobility |
180 cm2/Vs |
Thermal, Mechanical and Optical Properties
The thermal, mechanical and optical properties of zinc oxide are provided in the tables below:
| Thermal Properties |
| Heat of Fusion |
642.6 J/g |
| Heat of Formation |
-350 kJ/mol |
| Thermal Conductivity |
60 W/mK |
| Mechanical Properties |
| Density |
5.66 g/cm3 |
| Melting Point |
1975°C |
| Mohs Hardness |
4 |
| Optical Properties |
| Refractive Index |
2.013 |
Safety Information
| Safety Information |
| GHS Hazard Statements |
H410 - Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects |
| Safety Precautions |
P273 - Avoid release to the environment.
P391 - Collect spillage
P501 - Dispose of contents/ container to an approved waste disposal plant |