A powder, white when cold and yellow when hot, ZnO; r.d. 5.606; m.p. 1975°C. It occurs naturally as a reddish orange ore zincite, and can also be made by oxidizing hot zinc in air. It is amphoteric, forming zincates with bases. It is used as a pigment (Chinese white) and a mild antiseptic in zinc ointments. An archaic name is philosopher’s wool.