The hexahydrate, Zn(NO3)2•6H2O, is a colorless and odorless crystalline solid; tetragonal structure; density 2.065 g/cm3 at 15°C; melts at 36.4°C; loses all its water of crystallization between 105 to 131°C; very soluble in water, about 184 g/100mL water at 20°C; the aqueous solution acidic, the pH of a 5% solution is about 5.1; also very soluble in alcohol.
The trihydrate, Zn(NO3)2•3H2O consists of colorless needles; melts at 45.5°C; very soluble in water, 327 g/100mL at 40°C.
The compound is used as a mordant in dyeing and as a latex coagulant. It also is used as an acid catalyst and as an analytical standard for zinc.
Zinc nitrate is prepared by reacting zinc metal, zinc oxide or zinc hydroxide with nitric acid followed by crystallization. The salt is obtained as hexahydrate:
Zn + 2HNO3 → Zn(NO3)2 + H2
ZnO + 2HNO3 → Zn(NO3)2 + H2O
Zn(OH)2 + 2HNO3 → Zn(NO3)2 + 2H2O
The salt also is sold commercially in the form of fused pieces and technical flakes containing about 20% and 25.6% water, respectively.
Zinc Nitrate Hexahydrate is a component used in the composition for nourishing and protecting fruit trees from acid rain.
Used as a mordant in dyeing and chemical synthesis of coordination polymers
Zinc nitrate hexahydrate is used in the synthesis of coordination polymers. It is utilized in the preparation of zinc oxide based nanowires. It is also used as a mordant in dyeing. It is involved in the preparation of a new microporous, organically templated zinc phosphate, which finds application as catalysts and other applications involving microporosity.
