YouTuber shows how zinc oxide changes color when heated and then changes back

Could the same reaction happen in a vacuum chamber?
Derya Ozdemir

In this video by the YouTube channel The Action Lab, who's become a household name for conducting the coolest science experiments, you can see how zinc oxide changes color when heated and then changes back when the heat is reduced. This process involves the material basically "un-burning" itself. But how does that work?

In case you didn't know, zinc oxide is a white, relatively inert chemical that is commonly employed as a bulking agent or filler, as well as a white pigment, according to European Commission. It can be found in some rubber, glass, and ceramic products. It is also used as a catalyst in the chemical industry, and in paints as a corrosion inhibitor to reduce mildew.