C

Both cements set by a chelation reaction in which zinc ions form coordinate bonds with phenolate (in zinc oxide-eugenol) or carboxylate (in zinc polycarboxylate) groups; this chelation is fundamental to their matrix formation, whereas chemical adhesion to tooth structure is seen mainly with polycarboxylate alone and the other listed features are cement-specific [Nielsen 1993, PMID 8289021; Negm 1981, PMID 7014843].