Zinc hydroxide

Zinc hydroxide
Names
	IUPAC name Zinc hydroxide
Identifiers
CAS Number	20427-58-1 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	7988510 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.039.816
PubChem CID	9812759;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID7042516 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/2H2O.Zn/h21H2;/q;;+2/p-2 Key: UGZADUVQMDAIAO-UHFFFAOYSA-L ; InChI=1/2H2O.Zn/h21H2;/q;;+2/p-2 Key: UGZADUVQMDAIAO-NUQVWONBAV;
	SMILES [Zn+2].[OH-].[OH-];
Properties
Chemical formula	Zn(OH)2
Molar mass	99.424 g/mol
Appearance	white powder
Density	3.053 g/cm3, solid
Melting point	125 °C (decomposition)
Solubility in water	slightly soluble
Solubility product (Ksp)	3.0×10−17
Solubility in alcohol	insoluble
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of; formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−642 kJ·mol−1
Hazards
Flash point	Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions	Zinc oxide
Other cations	Cadmium hydroxide
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Zinc hydroxide Zn(OH)₂ is an inorganic chemical compound. It also occurs naturally as 3 rare minerals: wülfingite (orthorhombic), ashoverite and sweetite (both tetragonal).

Like the hydroxides of other metals, such as lead, aluminium, beryllium, tin and chromium, zinc hydroxide (and zinc oxide), is amphoteric. Thus it will dissolve readily in a dilute solution of a strong acid, such as HCl, and also in a solution of an alkali such as sodium hydroxide.

It can be prepared by adding sodium hydroxide solution, but not in excess, to a solution of any zinc salt. A white precipitate will be seen: Zn²⁺ + 2OH^- → Zn(OH)₂.

If excess sodium hydroxide is added, the precipitate of zinc hydroxide will dissolve, forming a colorless solution of zincate ion: Zn(OH)₂ + 2OH^- → Zn(OH)₄^2-. This property can be used as a test for zinc ions in solution, but it is not exclusive, since aluminum and lead compounds behave in a very similar manner. Unlike the hydroxides of aluminum and lead, zinc hydroxide also dissolves in aqueous ammonia to form a colourless, water-soluble ammine complex

The reason that the zinc hydroxide will dissolve is because the ion is normally surrounded by water ligands; when excess sodium hydroxide is added to the solution the hydroxide ions will reduce the complex to a -2 charge and make it soluble. When excess ammonia is added, it sets up an equilibirum which provides hydroxide ions; the formation of hydroxide ions causes a similar reaction as sodium hydroxide and creates a +2 charged complex with a co-ordination number of 4 with the ammonia ligands - this makes the complex soluble so that it dissolves.

One major use is as an absorbent in surgical dressings.

References

^ Zumdahl, Steven S. (2009). Chemical Principles 6th Ed. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. A23. ISBN 0-618-94690-X.

Chemistry in Context - By Graham Hill, John Holman (pp. 283,284)

This inorganic compound–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[b1-1] Zumdahl, Steven S. (2009). Chemical Principles 6th Ed. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. A23. ISBN 0-618-94690-X.

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