Characteristic

Zinc nitrate is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula Zn(NO₃)₂ . This white, crystalline solid is highly deliquescent and is typically encountered as a hexahydrate Zn(NO₃)₂•6H₂O. It is soluble in both water and alcohol.

Chemical formula：Zn(NO₃)₂

Molar mass：189.36 g/mol (anhydrous)    297.49 g/mol (hexahydrate)

Appearance：colorless, deliquescent crystals

Density：2.065 g/cm³ (hexahydrate)

Melting point：110 °C (230 °F; 383 K) (anhydrous)   45.5 °C (trihydrate)   36.4 °C (hexahydrate)

Boiling point：~ 125 °C (257 °F; 398 K) decomposes (hexahydrate)

Solubility in water：327 g/100 mL, 40 °C (trihydrate)   184.3 g/100 ml, 20 °C (hexahydrate)

Solubility：very soluble in alcohol

Magnetic susceptibility (χ)：−63.0·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol

Main hazards：Oxidant, may explode on heating

Application

Zinc nitrate has no large scale application but is used on a laboratory scale for the synthesis of coordination polymers. Its controlled decomposition to zinc oxide has also been used for the generation of various ZnO based structures, including nanowires.

It can be used as a mordant in dyeing.