Binary Compounds
Zinc oxide, ZnO, is the most important manufactured compound of zinc, with a wide variety of uses. It crystallizes with the Wurtzite structure. It is amphoteric, dissolving in acids to give the aqueous Zn2+ ion and in alkali to give the tetrahedral hydroxo complex, 2-. Zinc hydroxide, Zn(OH)2 is also amphoteric.
Zinc sulfide, ZnS, crystallizes in two closely related structures, the Zinc blende structure and the Wurtzite structure which are common structures of compounds with the formula MA. Both Zn and S are tetrahedrally coordinated by the other ion. A useful property of ZnS is its phosphorescence.The other chalcogenides, ZnSe, and ZnTe, have applications in electronics and optics.
Of the four halides ZnF2 has the most ionic character, whereas the others, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, and ZnI2, have relatively low melting points and are considered to have more covalent character. The pnictogenides Zn3N2 (notable for its high melting point), Zn3P2, Zn3As2 and Zn3Sb2, have various applications. Other binary compounds of zinc include the peroxide ZnO2, the hydride ZnH2, and the carbide ZnC2.
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