Chinese White

Chinese White, a permanent white pigment used in the arts, consists of the white oxide of zinc, ZnO. Its manufacture was first attempted in 1780, and in 1796 Atkinson patented its use as a substitute for white lead, which had previously been the only available white pigment, and was a most unsatisfactory one on account of its turning brown on continued exposure to the atmosphere. Only, however, in 1844 was a good and cheap method of preparing the pigment discovered by M. Leclaire.