Lithopone
A white pigment made from barium sulfate and zinc sulfide
No single value: Lithopone is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, white.
Lithopone is a white pigment created by mixing barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, both of which do not dissolve in water. It became popular for its low cost and strong covering ability, especially in paints and plastics. Over time, its shade can change if exposed to sunlight, but it remains valued for its safety and versatility.
- Made from barium sulfate and zinc sulfide
- First created in the 1870s
- Used in paints, plastics, and putty
- Can darken when exposed to sunlight
- Considered nontoxic and safe for food contact
What colour is Lithopone?
Lithopone is a white pigment powder made by combining two minerals: barium sulfate and zinc sulfide. It is known for its ability to hide surfaces well and for being safe to use. Its colour can range from bright white to grey or black if it is exposed to sunlight for long periods, depending on how much zinc sulfide it contains.
Where does Lithopone come from?
First developed in the 1870s, lithopone was discovered by DuPont and later produced by several companies. Its popularity grew because it was less expensive than other white pigments and offered good coverage. Different grades, called seals, were made with varying amounts of zinc sulfide to adjust its strength and hiding power.
How is Lithopone made?
Lithopone is produced by mixing solutions of zinc sulfate and barium sulfide, leading to a chemical reaction that forms a solid mixture of zinc sulfide and barium sulfate. Sometimes, extra zinc chloride is added to increase the zinc sulfide content. To make barium sulfide, barium sulfate is heated with carbon. Zinc sulfate often comes from recycled zinc materials treated with sulfuric acid.
Where Lithopone is used
This pigment is mainly found in paints, putty, and plastics. Because it does not dissolve in water and is considered safe, it has also been used in contact with food and even as a medical radiocontrast agent. Its low cost and strong coverage made it a common choice in industry.
White around the world
What the white family means from country to country.
The Taliban flag is white with the Muslim declaration of faith in black. It replaced the black, red and green tricolour of the republic in 2021.
Politics and protestSacred and holySource: Flag of AfghanistanThe Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo wore white headscarves as they marched to demand news of children who disappeared under the dictatorship of 1976 to 1983.
Politics and protestMourning and deathCourageSource: Mothers of Plaza de MayoThe wiphala, a square flag of 49 small squares in seven colours with a white diagonal, stands for the Andean peoples. It has been a second national flag since 2009.
Politics and protestPrideSource: WiphalaOn New Year's Eve crowds on the beaches dress in white for peace in the year ahead. The custom comes from the Afro-Brazilian religions, whose followers wear white.
Luck and prosperityFestival and celebrationSacred and holyHopeSource: New Year's EveAn ordinary citizen's kabney is white with fringes. It must be worn to enter a dzong, the fortress that houses both monks and government offices.
Purity and peaceSource: KabneyA red cross on white, the Swiss flag reversed, marks medical staff and aid workers in war and must not be attacked under the Geneva Conventions.
Protection and healingTrustSource: Emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent MovementShades and relatives of Lithopone
Lithopone comes in different grades, with some containing more zinc sulfide for greater hiding power. Over time, its colour may shift if exposed to sunlight, sometimes turning grey or black. Other white pigments used in similar ways include zinc sulfide and white lead.
Questions people ask about Lithopone
What colour is lithopone?
Lithopone is a white pigment, but its shade can shift to grey or black if exposed to sunlight for long periods, especially if it contains more zinc sulfide.
Where does the name lithopone come from?
The sources do not explain the origin of the name 'lithopone'.
How is lithopone made?
It is made by mixing solutions of barium sulfide and zinc sulfate, which react to form a solid mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide.
What is lithopone used for?
Lithopone is mainly used in paints, plastics, and putty, and has also been approved for use in contact with food and in medical imaging.
Is lithopone safe?
Lithopone is considered nontoxic because its ingredients do not dissolve in water, and it is allowed in food contact in the US and Europe.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lithopone", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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