It is decomposed by heat into the oxide and water, and is soluble in ammonia but not in excess of dilute potassium hydroxide; this latter property serves to distinguish it from zinc hydroxide.
It is decomposed by the influence of strong light or when strongly heated.
It is a colourless, oily, fuming liquid which is decomposed by water into sulphuric and hydrochloric acids.
It is decomposed readily into sulphur trioxide and oxygen when heated.
It is of nocturnal and burrowing habits, and feeds on decomposed animal substances, larvae and termites.
