Zinc Chloride or ZnCl2 is one of the most widely used chemical compounds in the industry, which is usually used in downstream applications. In the upcoming article, we will introduce zinc chloride, its uses and safety tips for working with it.

Zinc chloride has nine known crystal structures, which are usually colorless or white in color. This substance is highly soluble in water and is considered a strong water absorbent. For this reason, it should be kept away from water.

Structure and properties of zinc chloride

Zinc chloride is a polymorph substance. This substance has 4 known forms. This compound can be dissolved in many solvents such as methanol, ethanol, glycerol, acetone and ether.

ZnCl2 can be produced from the reaction of zinc metal with hydrochloric acid:

Zn(s) + 2 HCl → ZnCl ₂ + H _2(g)

Also, on an industrial scale, this material is produced using the following reaction:

ZnS(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2S(g)

This substance is usually in the form of granules and has a spicy taste. In the following, you can see the safety issues related to zinc chloride:

• Zinc chloride causes skin irritation. In case of contact with the skin, it should be quickly removed from the skin and washed with soap and water.
• Zinc chloride also causes irritation if it enters the digestive system. In case of contact with the eyes, the eyes should be washed quickly.
• Protective gowns and gloves must be used to work with zinc chloride.

Applications of zinc chloride

Zinc chloride has many applications in various industrial fields. In the following, some applications of zinc chloride are given.

Application of zinc chloride in organic syntheses

This substance is widely used in organic and excellent syntheses. Zinc chloride can be used as a Lewis acid, which is mostly used in laboratory synthesis. It is also used together with HCl to prepare alkaloids. It is also used in many other organic reactions, which are beyond the scope of this article.

Application of zinc chloride in textile and paper industries

Aqueous solutions of zinc chloride have an interesting property of starch, silk and cellulose. Zinc chloride is used in fibers as a fire retardant agent.

The use of zinc chloride in the treatment of skin cancer

Zinc chloride can cause cell death. It is used as an alternative treatment for skin cancer. Of course, this substance is mostly used in counterfeit drugs for cancer treatment, which the US Food and Drug Administration has also warned about. Since there are much better treatments, it is not recommended for use in the treatment of cancer.

Application of zinc chloride in agriculture

Zinc chloride is also used in agriculture. It is one of the important elements in the growth of plants. Agricultural products are exposed to zinc solutions, which are prepared by combining zinc chloride with other materials. To get more information about agricultural fertilizers and the use of different chemicals in agriculture, you can  read the article “Types of chemical fertilizers” .

Other uses of zinc chloride

Some other applications of zinc chloride will be listed below:

• This material is used in dry cell batteries.
• Zinc chloride can be used to separate oil from water and reduce the stability of oil in water.
• This material is used in the production of ion exchange resins.
• It is used in the production and protection of wood and glue.
• It can remove salts and oxides from the surface of metals.
• It is used as a suspending agent in the ore extraction process.
• This material is also used for some construction carbon skeletons.