Zinc sulfide facts for kids

Zinc sulfide is a special chemical compound. Its chemical formula is ZnS. This means it's made from two main parts: zinc and sulfide ions. Think of it like building blocks – zinc and sulfide are the blocks that come together to make zinc sulfide.

What is Zinc Sulfide Like?

When zinc sulfide is very clean and pure, it looks white. It's a solid material that does not dissolve in water, which means it won't disappear if you put it in a glass of water, unlike sugar or salt.

How it Reacts

Zinc sulfide can do some interesting things when heated or mixed with other chemicals:

• Burning: If you heat zinc sulfide to a very high temperature, it can burn. When it burns, it changes into two new substances: sulfur dioxide gas and zinc oxide.
• With Acids: If you mix zinc sulfide with strong acids, it reacts to create a gas called hydrogen sulfide. This gas is known for its smell, which is often compared to rotten eggs!

How is Zinc Sulfide Made?

There are a couple of ways to create zinc sulfide:

• Heating Zinc and Sulfur: One way is to mix powdered zinc metal with sulfur. If you heat this mixture very strongly (this is called "igniting" it), they will react together to form zinc sulfide. It can be a very fiery reaction!
• Using Hydrogen Sulfide: Another method involves taking a compound that contains zinc and mixing it with hydrogen sulfide gas. This reaction will also produce zinc sulfide.

What is Zinc Sulfide Used For?

Zinc sulfide has some cool uses, especially when it comes to light:

• Light Conversion: It can change ultraviolet light into visible light. Ultraviolet light is a type of light we can't see with our eyes (like the light that causes sunburn), but visible light is what we see every day (like the light from a lamp). Zinc sulfide helps us see light that was once invisible!
• Glowing in the Dark: If you add a tiny bit of copper to zinc sulfide (this process is called "doping"), it can be made to glow in the dark! This is why it's used in things like glow-in-the-dark toys, clock faces, and safety signs. The copper helps the zinc sulfide store energy from light and then release it slowly as a glow.

Images for kids

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  Sphalerite, a common natural form of zinc sulfide.

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  When zinc and sulfur are mixed and heated, they react to form zinc sulfide.

See also

In Spanish: Sulfuro de cinc para niños