zinc chloride

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

Zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) is a poisonous, caustic, and deliquescent salt. It is used as a wood preservative, drying agent, and catalyst. Zinc itself is a chemical element and a metal essential to life, widely used in various applications. In chemical compounds, zinc typically exhibits a +2 oxidation state. Zinc chloride can be prepared by direct reaction or by evaporating its aqueous solution. It is strongly water-absorbing and is utilized as a drying agent and a flux in processes like welding and soldering. In aqueous solution, it serves as a wood preservative.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

battery
Zinc–manganese dioxide systems
…chloride containing roughly 20 percent zinc chloride. The cathode is made of impure manganese dioxide (usually mined from selected deposits in Africa, Brazil, or Mexico). This compound is blended with carbon black and electrolyte to create a damp, active cathode mixture which is formed around a carbon collector rod, also…
Read More
…chloride containing roughly 20 percent zinc chloride. The cathode is made of impure manganese dioxide (usually mined from selected deposits in Africa, Brazil, or Mexico). This compound is blended with carbon black and electrolyte to create a damp, active cathode mixture which is formed around a carbon collector rod, also…
Read More