zinc chloride

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, deliquescent, water-soluble, poisonous solid, ZnCl 2 , used chiefly as a wood preservative, as a disinfectant and antiseptic, and in the manufacture of vulcanized fiber, parchment paper, and soldering fluxes.

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zinc chloride British  

noun

1. Also called: butter of zinc.  a white odourless soluble poisonous granular solid used in manufacturing parchment paper and vulcanized fibre and in preserving wood. It is also a soldering flux, embalming agent, and a medical astringent and antiseptic. Formula: ZnCl 2

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zinc chloride Scientific  

1. A white, water-soluble crystalline compound used as a wood preservative, as a soldering flux, and for a variety of industrial purposes, including the manufacture of cements and paper parchment. Chemical formula: ZnCl ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of zinc chloride

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The textiles are placed in a zinc chloride solution and within one hour everything is transformed into a gooey mass.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2024

It requires a quite simple salt -- zinc chloride -- which dissolves in water.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2024

Surgeons, undertakers and others began performing rudimentary embalming of soldiers using arsenic, zinc chloride or other ingredients.

From New York Times • Dec. 19, 2019

As the action of the cell proceeds, zinc chloride and ammonia are formed, and there being insufficient water to dissolve the ammonia, there results the formation of double chlorides of zinc and ammonium.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony & Telegraphy Vol. 1 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Miller, Kempster

More or less finely divided wood shavings, straw, tan, etc., singly or mixed, are moistened with a weak solution of zinc chloride of about 1.026 sp. gr., and allowed to dry.

From Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 by Burroughs, Barkham