Zinc Acetate

About This Product

Zinc acetate, Zn(CH3COO)2 with CAS number 557-34-6, is supplied anhydrous or as the dihydrate in white crystals, soluble in water and, unusually for a zinc salt, appreciably soluble in alcohol. That dual solubility is the practical reason it is chosen over cheaper zinc sources. Zinc oxide and zinc carbonate are effectively insoluble, so they can only be used where a dispersed solid is acceptable. Zinc acetate delivers zinc ions into solution in both aqueous and alcoholic systems, which allows it to be used as a homogeneous reagent. As a crosslinker it forms ionic bridges between carboxyl groups on polymer chains, which is used to build viscosity and wet strength in adhesives, coatings and paper. In textile and dye work it acts as a mordant, fixing dye to fibre by forming a coordination complex between the two. In timber treatment it is a fungicide and preservative, and it is a precursor for zinc oxide nanoparticle synthesis, where a soluble molecular starting material is required. The acetate decomposes cleanly on heating, leaving zinc oxide and no other residue. It is used in adhesives and coatings as a crosslinker, textile mordanting, wood preservation, zinc oxide precursor synthesis and in electroplating. Bio Green Chem supplies zinc acetate to specification on zinc content, acidity, chloride, sulfate, insolubles, lead and heavy metals.