It is a lemon-yellow solid although most samples have a duller color due to the effects of oxidation.

It is an intrinsic semiconductor with a band gap of about 2.70 eV at 25 °C (77 °F), equivalent to a wavelength of 459 nm.

ZnSe occurs as the rare mineral stilleite, named after Hans Stille.

The difference in the structures related to close packing motifs, hexagonal vs cubic.

ZnSe is insoluble in water, but dissolves in concentrated hydrochloric acid.