There are nine different crystalline forms of zinc chloride which are currently known. These hydrates of Zinc chloride are highly soluble in water.

 

Zinc Chloride Structure

A molecule of zinc chloride has an ionic bond between the zinc cation (Zn2+) and the chloride anions (Cl-). 

 

Zinc chloride which is a colourless liquid is responsible for causing burns to the mucous membrane, eyes or skin, and also corrosive to metals. The molecular formula for zinc chloride is ZNCL2 or CL2ZN. 

 

 

Zinc chloride is also known as  zinc dichloride, butter of zinc, zinc(II)chloride. The molecular weight of the zinc is 136.3. 

 

 

Zinc chloride is mildly corrosive to metals and causes burns to the eyes, mucous membrane and skin. 

 

 

 

Zinc chloride is a compound that can be prepared by a direct reaction, or by evaporating the aqueous solution formed in various reactions. Zinc chloride has nine different crystalline forms that are currently known. These hydrates of zinc chloride are mainly colourless or white in colour and all of them have a high solubility rate in water. Zinc chloride attracts the water molecules in its environment and therefore it can be said that it has hygroscopic qualities.

 

 

 

 

 

Chemical Properties of Zinc Chloride

When ZnCl2 is dissolved in water, the solution becomes acidic. The pH of this aqueous solution of zinc chloride having a concentration equals 6M is approx 1.

 

After heating, the hydrated form of zinc chloride loses water and small quantities of ZnCl(OH) are obtained. 

 

Zinc Chloride is soluble in water, glycerol, ether, and alcohol.

 

Zinc chloride is deliquescent in nature, so it should be protected from sources of moisture (water vapour).

 

 

 

Preparation of Zinc Chloride

The reaction between Zinc and hydrogen chloride gives an anhydrous form of zinc chloride. The chemical equation is given below:

 

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2

 

Hydrochloric acid reacts with zinc sulphide to form zinc chloride and hydrogen sulphide. The chemical equation  is given by:

 

ZnS + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2S

 

There are some impurities present in zinc chloride samples due to the process of hydrolysis. The purification of chloride is simple due to its oxidation state Zn as +2. Purification can be done by recrystallization from hot dioxane. The purification of anhydrous zinc chloride can be done through sublimation with HCl gas, followed by the subsequent heating of the sublimate to around 400 °C with dry nitrogen gas. It can also be purified by treating it with thionyl chloride.

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