Zinc sulfide

Last updated: March 19, 2023

Zinc sulfide is an inorganic compound with formula ZnS.

Table of contents

Names

List of substance names

Nomenclature

Name

Typical name: Zinc sulfide

Compositional nomenclature: Zinc sulfide

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Formula name

Formula

Typical formula: ZnS

Compositional formula: ZnS

Structural formula

Lewis structure

Colored Lewis structure

Properties

List of substance properties

Item

Value

Name: Zinc sulfide

Formula: ZnS

Appearance: Colorless solid; Yellow solid

Odor: Odorless

Molar mass: 97.44 g/mol

Density: 4.09 g/cm³^[1][2]
Solid, Wurtzite; 4.04 g/cm³^[2]
Solid, Sphalerite

Melting point: 1722 °C^[1]; 1827 °C^[2]
Wurtzite; 1020 °C^[2]
Sphalerite to wurtzite

Boiling point: –

Subliming point: –

Constituents

Constituent ions

Ion	Name	Charge number	Number
Zn²⁺	Zinc ion	2	1
S²⁻	Sulfide ion	-2	1

Constituent atoms

Atom	Name	Oxidation state	Number
Zn	Zinc	+2	1
S	Sulfur	−2	1

Ratio of atoms

Atom	Atomic weight	Number	Atomic ratio	Weight ratio
Zn	65.38	1	50.00%	67.10%
S	32.06	1	50.00%	32.90%

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Item

Value

Enthalpy of fusion: 30 kJ · mol⁻¹^[2]
Wurtzite, at 1827°C

Enthalpy of vaporization: –

Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C: –

Enthalpy of other transition: –

Standard thermodynamic properties

State	Standard enthalpy of formation Δ_fH° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard Gibbs energy of formation Δ_fG° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar entropy S° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar heat capacity at constant pressure C_p° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹
Crystalline solid	−192.63^[3]	–	–	–
Crystalline solid	−205.98^[3]	−201.29^[3]	57.7^[3]	46.0^[3]

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Reactive

Miscible

Very soluble

Soluble: HA^[1]Mineral acid

Slightly soluble

Very slightly soluble

Insoluble: H₂OWater

Solubility in water (g/100 g)^[4]

18°C
0.00069

Solubility curve (g/100 g)

Preparations

Reaction of metal and nonmetal

The reaction of zinc and sulfur yields zinc sulfide.

Reaction of zinc and sulfur ◆ Δ_rG −201.29 kJ/mol K 1.84 × 10³⁵ pK −35.26: ZnZinc + SSulfur
⟶
ZnSZinc sulfide

Reaction of acid and base

The reaction of hydrogen sulfide and zinc hydroxide yields zinc sulfide and water.

Reaction of hydrogen sulfide and zinc hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG −88.18 kJ/mol K 2.81 × 10¹⁵ pK −15.45: H₂SHydrogen sulfide + Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide
⟶
ZnSZinc sulfide + 2H₂OWater

Reaction of basic oxide and acid

The reaction of zinc oxide and hydrogen sulfide yields zinc sulfide and water.

Reaction of zinc oxide and hydrogen sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −86.56 kJ/mol K 1.46 × 10¹⁵ pK −15.16: ZnOZinc oxide + H₂SHydrogen sulfide
⟶
ZnSZinc sulfide + H₂OWater

Precipitation reaction

When zinc ion and sulfide ion react in aqueous solution, a precipitate of zinc sulfide is formed.

Reaction of zinc chloride and sodium sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −250.4 kJ/mol K 7.38 × 10⁴³ pK −43.87: ZnCl₂Zinc chloride + Na₂SSodium sulfide
💧
⟶
ZnS↓Zinc sulfide + 2NaClSodium chloride

Reaction of zinc bromide and sodium sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −237.3 kJ/mol K 3.74 × 10⁴¹ pK −41.57: ZnBr₂Zinc bromide + Na₂SSodium sulfide
💧
⟶
ZnS↓Zinc sulfide + 2NaBrSodium bromide

Reaction of zinc iodide and sodium sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −214.7 kJ/mol K 4.11 × 10³⁷ pK −37.61: ZnI₂Zinc iodide + Na₂SSodium sulfide
💧
⟶
ZnS↓Zinc sulfide + 2NaISodium iodide

Reaction of zinc chloride and potassium sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −286.2 kJ/mol K 1.38 × 10⁵⁰ pK −50.14: ZnCl₂Zinc chloride + K₂SPotassium sulfide
💧
⟶
ZnS↓Zinc sulfide + 2KClPotassium chloride

Reaction of zinc bromide and potassium sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −286.5 kJ/mol K 1.56 × 10⁵⁰ pK −50.19: ZnBr₂Zinc bromide + K₂SPotassium sulfide
💧
⟶
ZnS↓Zinc sulfide + 2KBrPotassium bromide

Decomposition of zinc sulfate ◆ Δ_rG 670.2 kJ/mol K 0.39 × 10⁻¹¹⁷ pK 117.41: ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate
🔥
⟶
ZnSZinc sulfide + 2O₂↑Oxygen

Decomposition of zinc sulfate ◆ Δ_rG 2663.4 kJ/mol K 0.25 × 10⁻⁴⁶⁶ pK 466.61: 3ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate
🔥
⟶
3ZnSZinc sulfide + 4O₃↑Ozone

Chemical reactions

Electrolytic dissociation

Electrolytic dissociation of zinc sulfide yields zinc ion and sulfide ion.

Electrolytic dissociation of zinc sulfide ◆ Δ_rG 140.0 kJ/mol K 0.30 × 10⁻²⁴ pK 24.53: ZnSZinc sulfide
⟶
Zn²⁺Zinc ion + S²⁻Sulfide ion

Reaction with strong acid

The reaction of zinc sulfide and strong acid yields salt of strong acid and hydrogen sulfide.

Reaction of zinc sulfide and hydrogen chloride ◆ Δ_rG −11.07 kJ/mol K 8.70 × 10¹ pK −1.94: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2HClHydrogen chloride
⟶
ZnCl₂Zinc chloride + H₂SHydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and hydrogen bromide ◆ Δ_rG −37.50 kJ/mol K 3.71 × 10⁶ pK −6.57: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2HBrHydrogen bromide
⟶
ZnBr₂Zinc bromide + H₂SHydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and hydrogen iodide ◆ Δ_rG −44.62 kJ/mol K 6.56 × 10⁷ pK −7.82: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2HIHydrogen iodide
⟶
ZnI₂Zinc iodide + H₂SHydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and sulfuric acid ◆ Δ_rG −13.8 kJ/mol K 2.62 × 10² pK −2.42: ZnSZinc sulfide + H₂SO₄Sulfuric acid
⟶
ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate + H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and nitric acid ◆ Δ_rG 20.66 kJ/mol K 0.24 × 10⁻³ pK 3.62: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2HNO₃Nitric acid
🔥
⟶
Zn(NO₃)₂Zinc nitrate + H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction with strong base

The reaction of zinc sulfide and strong base yields salt of strong base and zinc hydroxide.

Reaction of zinc sulfide and sodium hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG 56.7 kJ/mol K 0.12 × 10⁻⁹ pK 9.93: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2NaOHSodium hydroxide
🔥
⟶
Na₂SSodium sulfide + Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and magnesium hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG 139.2 kJ/mol K 0.41 × 10⁻²⁴ pK 24.39: ZnSZinc sulfide + Mg(OH)₂Magnesium hydroxide
🔥
⟶
MgSMagnesium sulfide + Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and potassium hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG 41.6 kJ/mol K 0.52 × 10⁻⁷ pK 7.29: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2KOHPotassium hydroxide
🔥
⟶
K₂SPotassium sulfide + Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and calcium hydroxide ◆ Δ_rG 68.6 kJ/mol K 0.96 × 10⁻¹² pK 12.02: ZnSZinc sulfide + Ca(OH)₂Calcium hydroxide
🔥
⟶
CaSCalcium sulfide + Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and strontium hydroxide: ZnSZinc sulfide + Sr(OH)₂Strontium hydroxide
⟶
SrSStrontium sulfide + Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide

Reaction with nonvolatile acid

The reaction of zinc sulfide and nonvolatile acid yields salt of non volatile acid and hydrogen sulfide.

Reaction of zinc sulfide and phosphoric acid: 3ZnSZinc sulfide + 2H₃PO₄Phosphoric acid
🔥
⟶
Zn₃(PO₄)₂Zinc phosphate + 3H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and chromic acid: ZnSZinc sulfide + H₂CrO₄Chromic acid
🔥
⟶
ZnCrO₄Zinc chromate + H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and arsenic acid ◆ Δ_rG 140 kJ/mol K 0.30 × 10⁻²⁴ pK 24.53: 3ZnSZinc sulfide + 2H₃AsO₄Arsenic acid
🔥
⟶
Zn₃(AsO₄)₂Zinc arsenate + 3H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and thiocyanic acid ◆ Δ_rG 15.4 kJ/mol K 0.20 × 10⁻² pK 2.70: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2HSCNThiocyanic acid
🔥
⟶
Zn(SCN)₂Zinc thiocyanate + H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and permanganic acid: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2HMnO₄Permanganic acid
⟶
Zn(MnO₄)₂Zinc permanganate + H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Reaction with oxidizing species

The reaction of zinc sulfide and oxidizing species yields a variety of products.

Reaction of zinc sulfide and oxygen ◆ Δ_rG −670.2 kJ/mol K 2.59 × 10¹¹⁷ pK −117.41: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2O₂Oxygen
⟶
ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate

Reaction of zinc sulfide and oxygen ◆ Δ_rG −234.02 kJ/mol K 9.97 × 10⁴⁰ pK −41.00: 2ZnSZinc sulfide + O₂Oxygen
⟶
2ZnOZinc oxide + 2SSulfur

Reaction of zinc sulfide and chlorine ◆ Δ_rG −168.11 kJ/mol K 2.83 × 10²⁹ pK −29.45: ZnSZinc sulfide + Cl₂Chlorine
⟶
ZnCl₂Zinc chloride + SSulfur

Reaction of zinc sulfide and nitric acid ◆ Δ_rG −461.0 kJ/mol K 5.80 × 10⁸⁰ pK −80.76: ZnSZinc sulfide + 4HNO₃Nitric acid
⟶
ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate + 4HNO₂Nitrous acid

Reaction of zinc sulfide and nitric acid ◆ Δ_rG −807.1 kJ/mol K 2.50 × 10¹⁴¹ pK −141.40: 3ZnSZinc sulfide + 8HNO₃Nitric acid
⟶
3ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate + 4N₂O₃↑Dinitrogen trioxide + 4H₂↑Hydrogen

Reaction with reducible species

The reaction of zinc sulfide and reducible species yields a variety of products.

Reaction of zinc sulfide and iodine ◆ Δ_rG −7.66 kJ/mol K 2.20 × 10¹ pK −1.34: ZnSZinc sulfide + I₂Iodine
⟶
ZnI₂Zinc iodide + SSulfur

Reaction of zinc sulfide and manganese(IV) oxide ◆ Δ_rG −261.3 kJ/mol K 5.99 × 10⁴⁵ pK −45.78: ZnSZinc sulfide + 4MnO₂Manganese(IV) oxide
⟶
ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate + 4MnOManganese(II) oxide

Reaction of zinc sulfide and manganese(IV) oxide ◆ Δ_rG −473.5 kJ/mol K 8.99 × 10⁸² pK −82.95: ZnSZinc sulfide + 8MnO₂Manganese(IV) oxide
⟶
ZnSO₄Zinc sulfate + 4Mn₂O₃Manganese(III) oxide

Reaction with reducing species

The reaction of reducing species and zinc sulfide yields a variety of products.

Reaction of sodium and zinc sulfide ◆ Δ_rG −148.5 kJ/mol K 1.04 × 10²⁶ pK −26.02: 2NaSodium + ZnSZinc sulfide
⟶
Na₂SSodium sulfide + ZnZinc

Reaction of hydrogen and zinc sulfide ◆ Δ_rG 167.73 kJ/mol K 0.41 × 10⁻²⁹ pK 29.39: H₂Hydrogen + ZnSZinc sulfide
🔥
⟶
ZnZinc + H₂SHydrogen sulfide

Hydrolysis

The reaction of zinc sulfide and water yields zinc hydroxide and hydrogen sulfide.

Hydrolysis of zinc sulfide ◆ Δ_rG 88.18 kJ/mol K 0.36 × 10⁻¹⁵ pK 15.45: ZnSZinc sulfide + 2H₂OWater
⟶
Zn(OH)₂Zinc hydroxide + H₂S↑Hydrogen sulfide

Molten salt electrolysis

Molten salt electrolysis of zinc sulfide yields zinc and sulfur.

Molten salt electrolysis of zinc sulfide ◆ Δ_rG 201.29 kJ/mol K 0.54 × 10⁻³⁵ pK 35.26: ZnSZinc sulfide
🔥⚡
⟶
ZnZinc + SSulfur

References

List of references

1
James G. Speight (2017)
Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 17th edition
https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781259586095
McGraw Hill Education
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 4.09 g/cm³ - p.72
- ^ Melting point, 1722 °C - p.72
- ^ Qualitative solubility, Soluble in mineral acid - p.72
2
John R. Rumble Jr, David R. Lide, Thomas J. Bruno (2019)
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 100th Edition
https://www.routledge.com/CRC-Handbook-of-Chemistry-and-Physics/book-series/CRCHANCHEPHY
CRC Press
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 4.09 g/cm³ - p.4-51
- ^ Density, 4.04 g/cm³ - p.4-51
- ^ Melting point, 1827 °C - p.4-51
- ^ Melting point, 1020 °C - p.4-51
- ^ Subliming point, - p.4-51
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 30 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-162
3
Janiel J. Reed (1989)
The NBS Tables of Chemical Thermodynamic Properties: Selected Values for Inorganic and C1 and C2 Organic Substances in SI Units
https://doi.org/10.18434/M32124
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Citation list
4
Atherton Seidell (1919)
Solubilities of Inorganic and Organic Compounds: A Compilation of Quantitative Solubility Data From the Periodical Literature
D. Van Nostrand Company
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Solubility in Water (g/100 g), See the table - p.755

Δ_rG	−201.29 kJ/mol
K	1.84 × 10³⁵
pK	−35.26

Δ_rG	−88.18 kJ/mol
K	2.81 × 10¹⁵
pK	−15.45

Δ_rG	−86.56 kJ/mol
K	1.46 × 10¹⁵
pK	−15.16

Δ_rG	−250.4 kJ/mol
K	7.38 × 10⁴³
pK	−43.87

Zinc sulfide

Names

List of substance names

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Properties

List of substance properties

Constituents

Constituent ions

Constituent atoms

Ratio of atoms

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Standard thermodynamic properties

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Solubility in water (g/100 g)[4]

Solubility curve (g/100 g)

Preparations

Reaction of metal and nonmetal

Reaction of acid and base

Reaction of basic oxide and acid

Precipitation reaction

Reaction of active metal and acid

Reaction of nonmetal and hydroxide base

Decomposition

Chemical reactions

Electrolytic dissociation

Reaction with strong acid

Reaction with strong base

Reaction with nonvolatile acid

Reaction with oxidizing species

Reaction with reducible species

Reaction with reducing species

Hydrolysis

Molten salt electrolysis

References

List of references

Related substances

Sulfide of salt of group 12 metal

Acid

Base and basic oxide

Related categories

Classification by constituent

Type of substance

State of substance

Property of substance

Solubility of substance

Color of substance

Odor of substance

Solubility in water (g/100 g)^[4]