Zinc acetate occurs as white crystalline, lustrous plates with a faint
acetic odor and an astringent taste.
Zinc acetate dihydrate Zn(C2H3O2)•2H2O is a Colourless or white efflorescent crystals; faint acetic acid odor; astringent taste; monoclinic crystals; density 1.735 g/cm3; loses water at 100°C; decomposes at 237°C; readily dissolves in water, 43g/100 mL at 20°C; soluble in alcohol.
Preserving wood; as mordant in dyeing; manufacture of glazes for painting on porcelain. As a reagent in testing for albumin, tannin, urobilin, phosphate, blood.
Zinc acetate is used as a mordant in dyeing textiles; in preserving wood; in manufacturing glazes for painting on ceramics; and as an analytic reagent in measuring albumin, tannin, and phosphate. Other uses are as a crosslinking agent for polymers; and as a supplement in food. The compound is used in medicine as an astringent.
Zinc acetate [Zn(C2H3O2)2] is used as a mordant for dyeing cloth, as a wood preservative,
as a laboratory agent, and as a dietary supplement.
Zinc acetate dihydrate is used in the preparation of layered Zn-arylphosphonates with potential application in sorption, ion exchange or catalysis and zinc sulfide nanoparticles coated on silica particles. It is used in dietary and medical applications. It is also used as lozenges for treating the common cold. It is used as a seeding material to grow zinc oxide nanorods on the microfibers of polyethylene terephthalate fabric. In addition, it finds application as wood preservation, production of other zinc salts, ethylene acetate manufacture, and an analytical reagent in various industries. As a plating inhibitor, it is used in nuclear power plant.
Zinc acetate is synthesized by reacting zinc oxide with glacial acetic
acid, with subsequent crystallization, separation by centrifugation,
and drying and milling of the crystals. No organic solvents are used
during the synthesis.
Structure of zinc acetate dehydrate is monoclinic with unit cell dimensions a=14.50, b=5.32 and c=11.02?.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Zinc acetate has been used as an excipient in a variety of
pharmaceutical formulations including topical gels, lotions, and
solutions, and subcutaneous injections. It has also been investigated
for use in an oral controlled-release formulation for water-soluble
drugs in combination with sodium alginate and xanthan gum.
Therapeutically, zinc acetate has been used in oral capsules for
the treatment of Wilson’s disease. Zinc acetate has also been
demonstrated to be effective as a spermicide in vaginal contraceptives.
Zinc acetate is used in topical pharmaceutical formulations and
subcutaneous injections, where it is generally regarded as relatively
nontoxic and nonirritant when used as an excipient. However, zinc
acetate is poisonous by intravenous and intraperitoneal routes; it is
also moderately toxic following oral consumption.
LD50 (mouse, IP): 0.108 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, oral): 0.287 g/kg
LD50 (rat, IP): 0.162 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): 0.794 g/kg
Zinc acetate loses water of hydration above 100℃. Zinc acetate
should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry, place.
It crystallises (in poor yield) from hot water or, better, from EtOH. [Beilstein 2 III 193, 2 IV 114.]
Zinc acetate is incompatible with oxidizing agents, zinc salts, alkalis
and their carbonates, oxalates, phosphates, and sulfides.
Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (SC injections;
topical lotions and solutions). Included in medicines licensed in the
UK.
