Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula ZnO; it is in the form of a white powder, almost insoluble in water. This powder is widely used as an additive to many product materials including plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, rubber (car tires), lubricants, ointments, sealants, food (as a source of zinc), electric batteries, fire retardants, and for paint, its use in industrial paints is limited by its reaction with the acidity that may be present in the paint medium. Its advantages include helping the paint layer to retain its color and resist sunlight and yellowing, as well as getting rid of adhesion and preventing corrosion of iron surfaces.
Zinc oxide is found in the Earth's crust as the mineral zincite, which is red zinc oxide, but most of the zinc oxide used commercially is manufactured synthetically. At the nanostructure level, zinc oxide is represented by what are called wurtzoids. Zinc oxide nanostructures are used in electronic circuits and as a gas sensor
