Titanium Dioxide is a physical sunscreen that belongs to a group of elite sunscreens. These sunscreens are also known as inorganic sunscreens for those who prefer technical terms. Typically, sunscreens are classified as either chemical or physical, with physical sunscreens reflecting UV light like tiny umbrellas on the skin. However, recent studies indicate that inorganic sunscreens mostly absorb UV light, similar to chemical filters, and only reflect light in the visible spectrum.
Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania /taɪˈteɪniə/, is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula TiO
2. When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6 (PW6), or CI 77891. It is a white solid that is insoluble in water, although mineral forms can appear black. As a pigment, it has a wide range of applications, including paint, sunscreen, and food coloring. When used as a food coloring, it has E number E171. World production in 2014 exceeded 9 million tonnes. It has been estimated that titanium dioxide is used in two-thirds of all pigments, and pigments based on the oxide have been valued at a price of $13.2 billion.
Names | |
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IUPAC names
Titanium dioxide
Titanium(IV) oxide | |
Other names | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.033.327 |
E number | E171 (colours) |
KEGG | |
PubChem CID
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RTECS number |
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
TiO 2 | |
Molar mass | 79.866 g/mol |
Appearance | White solid |
Odor | Odorless |
Density |
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Melting point | 1,843 °C (3,349 °F; 2,116 K) |
Boiling point | 2,972 °C (5,382 °F; 3,245 K) |
Insoluble | |
Band gap | 3.05 eV (rutile) |
+5.9·10−6 cm3/mol | |
Refractive index (nD)
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Thermochemistry | |
Std molar
entropy (S⦵298) |
50 J·mol−1·K−1 |
Std enthalpy of
formation (ΔfH⦵298) |
−945 kJ·mol−1 |
Hazards | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Flash point | not flammable |
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
PEL (Permissible)
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TWA 15 mg/m3 |
REL (Recommended)
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Ca |
IDLH (Immediate danger)
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Ca [5000 mg/m3] |
Safety data sheet (SDS) | ICSC 0338 |
Related compounds | |
Other cations
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Zirconium dioxide Hafnium dioxide |
Titanium(II) oxide Titanium(III) oxide Titanium(III,IV) oxide | |
Related compounds
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Titanic acid |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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