How we scored it
ZrO2 123.22 Da: zirconium and oxygen both mineral-derived (zircon or baddeleyite): 123.22 / 123.22 = 1.00.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Dominant route chemically processes zircon sand (zirconium silicate) through zirconium oxychloride or sulfate to zirconia, while baddeleyite ore is a direct source. No petrochemical route exists.
In plain English
A white, very hard mineral powder (zirconia) used to make products look more opaque. It is made from zircon sand or baddeleyite ore.
CosIng definition: Zirconium Dioxide is the inorganic oxide that conforms to the formula
Structure
dioxozirconium
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2Zirconium Dioxide. PubChem CID 62395. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3ZIRCONIUM DIOXIDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4ZIRCONIUM DIOXIDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ZIRCONIUM%20DIOXIDE