Zinc chloride

For the battery type, see Zinc–chloride battery.
Zinc chloride

Anhydrous
Zinc chloride hydrate
Monohydrate
Names
IUPAC name
Zinc chloride
Other names
  • Butter of zinc
  • Neutral zinc chloride (1:2)
  • Zinc bichloride (archaic)
  • Zinc(II) chloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.028.720 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 231-592-0
RTECS number
  • ZH1400000
UNII
UN number 2331
  • InChI=1S/2ClH.Zn/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2 checkY
    Key: JIAARYAFYJHUJI-UHFFFAOYSA-L checkY
  • InChI=1/2ClH.Zn/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2
    Key: JIAARYAFYJHUJI-NUQVWONBAB
  • Cl[Zn]Cl
Properties
ZnCl2
Molar mass 136.315 g/mol
Appearance White hygroscopic and very deliquescent crystalline solid
Odor odorless
Density 2.907 g/cm3
Melting point 290 °C (554 °F; 563 K)[1]
Boiling point 732 °C (1,350 °F; 1,005 K)[1]
432.0 g/100 g (25 °C)
615 g/100 g (100 °C)
Solubility soluble in ethanol, glycerol and acetone
Solubility in ethanol 430.0 g/100 ml
−65.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
Tetrahedral, linear in the gas phase
Pharmacology
B05XA12 (WHO)
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 Oral toxicity, irritant[2]
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS07: Exclamation markGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H302, H314, H410
P273, P280, P301+P330+P331, P305+P351+P338, P308+P310
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gasFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
3
0
0
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
  • 350 mg/kg (rat, oral)
  • 350 mg/kg (mouse, oral)
  • 200 mg/kg (guinea pig, oral)
  • 1100 mg/kg (rat, oral)
  • 1250 mg/kg (mouse, oral)
[4]
1260 mg/m3 (rat, 30 min)
1180 mg-min/m3[4]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 1 mg/m3 (fume)[3]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 1 mg/m3 ST 2 mg/m3 (fume)[3]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 50 mg/m3 (fume)[3]
Safety data sheet (SDS) External SDS
Related compounds
Other anions
Other cations
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Zinc chloride is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula ZnCl2·nH2O, with n ranging from 0 to 4.5, forming hydrates. Zinc chloride, anhydrous and its hydrates, are colorless or white crystalline solids, and are highly soluble in water. Five hydrates of zinc chloride are known, as well as four forms of anhydrous zinc chloride.[5]

All forms of zinc chloride are deliquescent. Zinc chloride finds wide application in textile processing, metallurgical fluxes, and chemical synthesis.[5] In a major monograph, zinc chlorides have been described as "one of the important compounds of zinc."[6]

  1. ^ a b O'Neil, M. J.; et al. (2001). The Merck index : an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals. N. J.: Whitehouse Station. ISBN 978-0-911910-13-1.
  2. ^ "Zinc chloride safety data sheet". Sigma-Aldrich. March 2, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0674". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  4. ^ a b "Zinc chloride fume". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 1211. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.