The Collaborative International Dictionary
Zinc \Zinc\ (z[i^][ng]k), n. [G. zink, probably akin to zinn tin: cf. F. zinc, from the German. Cf. Tin.] (Chem.) An abundant element of the magnesium-cadmium group, extracted principally from the minerals zinc blende, smithsonite, calamine, and franklinite, as an easily fusible bluish white metal, which is malleable, especially when heated. It is not easily oxidized in moist air, and hence is used for sheeting, coating galvanized iron, etc. It is used in making brass, britannia, and other alloys, and is also largely consumed in electric batteries. Symbol Zn. Atomic number 30. Atomic weight 65.38. [Formerly written also zink.]
Butter of zinc (Old Chem.), zinc chloride, ZnCl2, a deliquescent white waxy or oily substance.
Oxide of zinc. (Chem.) See Zinc oxide, below.
Zinc amine (Chem.), a white amorphous substance, Zn(NH2)2, obtained by the action of ammonia on zinc ethyl; -- called also zinc amide.
Zinc amyle (Chem.), a colorless, transparent liquid, composed of zinc and amyle, which, when exposed to the atmosphere, emits fumes, and absorbs oxygen with rapidity.
Zinc blende [cf. G. zinkblende] (Min.), a native zinc sulphide. See Blende, n. (a) .
Zinc bloom [cf. G. zinkblumen flowers of zinc, oxide of zinc] (Min.), hydrous carbonate of zinc, usually occurring in white earthy incrustations; -- called also hydrozincite.
Zinc ethyl (Chem.), a colorless, transparent, poisonous liquid, composed of zinc and ethyl, which takes fire spontaneously on exposure to the atmosphere.
Zinc green, a green pigment consisting of zinc and cobalt oxides; -- called also Rinmann's green.
Zinc methyl (Chem.), a colorless mobile liquid Zn(CH3)2, produced by the action of methyl iodide on a zinc sodium alloy. It has a disagreeable odor, and is spontaneously inflammable in the air. It has been of great importance in the synthesis of organic compounds, and is the type of a large series of similar compounds, as zinc ethyl, zinc amyle, etc.
Zinc oxide (Chem.), the oxide of zinc, ZnO, forming a light fluffy sublimate when zinc is burned; -- called also flowers of zinc, philosopher's wool, nihil album, etc. The impure oxide produced by burning the metal, roasting its ores, or in melting brass, is called also pompholyx, and tutty.
Zinc spinel (Min.), a mineral, related to spinel, consisting essentially of the oxides of zinc and aluminium; gahnite.
Zinc vitriol (Chem.), zinc sulphate. See White vitriol, under Vitriol.
Zinc white, a white powder consisting of zinc oxide, used as a pigment.
Wiktionary
n. (context chemistry English) An amorphous solid, ZnO, white when pure but often pale yellow, used in pigments and cosmetics
WordNet
n. oxide of zinc; a white powder used as a pigment or in cosmetics or glass or inks and in zinc ointment [syn: flowers of zinc, philosopher's wool]
Wikipedia
Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the formula Zn O. ZnO is a white powder that is insoluble in water, and it is widely used as an additive in numerous materials and products including rubbers, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, paints, ointments, adhesives, sealants, pigments, foods, batteries, ferrites, fire retardants, and first-aid tapes. Although it occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, most zinc oxide is produced synthetically.
ZnO is a wide-bandgap semiconductor of the II-VI semiconductor group. The native doping of the semiconductor due to oxygen vacancies or zinc interstitials is n-type. This semiconductor has several favorable properties, including good transparency, high electron mobility, wide bandgap, and strong room-temperature luminescence. Those properties are valuable in emerging applications for: transparent electrodes in liquid crystal displays, energy-saving or heat-protecting windows, and electronics as thin-film transistors and light-emitting diodes.
Usage examples of "zinc oxide".
The new plating was conspicious in its coat of dull brown zinc oxide paint, against the battleship-grey of the original hull.
His gaunt face was still smeared with residue of the white zinc oxide he used for sun protection when out on the water.
When Cindy neared the water, she dropped her tote bag on the sand, took out a tube of zinc oxide, and smeared some over her nose.
The boy sitting at his feet daubed the other shoe with zinc oxide and rapped on the box again to order a change of feet on the boardwalk.
In the meantime, mix zinc oxide and oil of cloves into a white paste.
Her toenails were colored magenta and her nose was buttered with zinc oxide and in one hand she brandished an Arthur Hailey paperback.