Substance profile
Zinc Chloride
Zinc Chloride is white, very deliquesce granules, or fused pieces or rods and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Zinc Chloride is
Zinc Chloride is white, very deliquesce granules, or fused pieces or rods and is odorless. Its molecular formula is Cl2Zn and its molecular weight is 136.3 g/mol. It boils at 732 °C, melts at 290 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Zinc Chloride identifiers and molecular data
Zinc Chloride CAS number and EC number
Zinc Chloride molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Zinc Chloride hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Zinc Chloride pictograms and signal word
Zinc Chloride hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 4 | H302 | GHS07 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H410 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Zinc Chloride hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Zinc Chloride. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Zinc Chloride
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Zinc Chloride issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Zinc Chloride precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 11 precautionary statements to Zinc Chloride. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Zinc Chloride name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | цинков хлорид |
| Spanish español | Cloruro de cinc |
| Czech čeština | chlorid zinečnatý |
| Danish dansk | zinkchlorid |
| German Deutsch | Zinkchlorid Zink(II)-chlorid |
| Estonian eesti | tsinkkloriid |
| Greek ελληνικά | χλωριούχος ψευδάργυρος |
| English English | zinc chloride |
| French français | chlorure de zinc |
| Croatian hrvatski | cinkov klorid |
| Italian italiano | cloruro di zinco |
| Latvian latviešu | cinka hlorīds |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | cinko chloridas |
| Hungarian magyar | cink-klorid |
| Maltese Malti | klorur taż-żingu |
| Dutch Nederlands | zinkchloride |
| Polish polski | chlorek cynku(II) dichlorek cynku |
| Portuguese português | cloreto de zinco |
| Romanian română | clorură de zinc |
| Slovak slovenčina | chlorid zinočnatý |
| Slovenian slovenščina | cinkov klorid |
| Finnish suomi | sinkkikloridi |
| Swedish svenska | zinkklorid |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Zinc Chloride GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Zinc Chloride, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Zinc Chloride
- Harmful if swallowed.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Call a POISON CENTER/doctor/… if you feel unwell.
- Rinse mouth.
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Zinc Chloride in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Zinc Chloride health hazards and exposure limits
Zinc Chloride hazard summary
Asthma reported in a solderer and a locksmith; [Malo] At a concentration of 0.4 mg/m3, ZnCl2 caused no respiratory irritation; at 4.8 mg/m3 for 30 minutes, transient respiratory irritation occurred. Higher concentrations after industrial accidents have been associated with toxic pneumonitis. [ACGIH] Zinc chloride is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract; [ICSC] Causes burns; Harmful by ingestion; [Alfa Aesar MSDS] See Zinc.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Zinc Chloride carcinogenicity classification
CLASSIFICATION: D; not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Based on inadequate evidence in humans and animals. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Inadequate. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Inadequate. /Zinc and compounds/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
Zinc Chloride occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 1.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 1 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 1 mg/m3 See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 1 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 2 mg/m³ | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 1 mg/m3 ST 2 mg/m3 | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 50 mg/m3 (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 50 mg/m3 [From NPG: Zinc chloride fume] (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 50.0 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Zinc Chloride properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Zinc Chloride boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 732 °C (1349.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 732.22 °C (1350 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 732.22 °C (1350 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Zinc Chloride melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 290 °C (554 °F) | NIOSH | |
| 282.78 °C (541 °F) | CAMEO |
Zinc Chloride density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.907 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 2.91 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | CAMEO |
Zinc Chloride solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | 1 gram dissolves in 0.25 mL 2% hydrochloric acid, 1.3 mL alcohol, 2 mL glycerol; freely soluble in acetone | HSDB | |
| 434.599 lb/100 lb water at 70 °F | at 21.11 °C | HSDB | |
| 432 g/100 g water at 25 °C; 614 g/100 g water at 100 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Zinc Chloride vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 0 mmHg | approx | NIOSH |
Zinc Chloride autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
Zinc Chloride lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Noncombustible Solid | NIOSH |
Zinc Chloride corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Fume corrosive to metals | zinc chloride fumes | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
Zinc Chloride fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Zinc Chloride fire potential
Not flammable
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
Zinc Chloride storage and handling
Zinc Chloride safe storage
Store only in original container. Separated from strong bases, strong oxidants and food and feedstuffs. Dry. Well closed. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Zinc Chloride storage conditions
Store below 40 °C (104 °F), preferably between 15 and 30 °C (59 and 86 °F), unless otherwise specified by manufacturer. Protect from freezing. /Zinc supplements/
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Zinc Chloride incompatible materials
A mixture of potassium and ... /zinc chloride/ produces a strong explosion on impact ...
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Zinc Chloride reactivity
When dissolved in water, ZINC CHLORIDE is a strong acid [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 964].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Zinc Chloride in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Transport
Zinc Chloride UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
The same CAS number is shipped under more than one UN number. Which entry applies follows from the form and the concentration of the consignment — read the proper shipping name, not the CAS.
Zinc Chloride under UN 1840 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZINC CHLORIDE SOLUTION | 8 | C1 | III | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc chloride, solution | 8 | III | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
Zinc Chloride under UN 2331 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZINC CHLORIDE, ANHYDROUS | 8 | C2 | III | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc chloride, anhydrous | 8 | III | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
12 · Questions
Zinc Chloride — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Zinc Chloride?
The CAS number of Zinc Chloride is 7646-85-7. Its EC number is 231-592-0.
What is the chemical formula of Zinc Chloride?
The molecular formula of Zinc Chloride is Cl2Zn and its molecular weight is 136.3 g/mol.
What does a Zinc Chloride label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Zinc Chloride carries the pictograms Corrosion, Exclamation mark and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Zinc Chloride flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Zinc Chloride no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it.
Is Zinc Chloride a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Zinc Chloride. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health.
What is the exposure limit for Zinc Chloride?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Zinc Chloride is 1.0 [mg/m3] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Zinc Chloride?
The boiling point reported for Zinc Chloride is 732 °C (1349.6 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Zinc Chloride?
The melting point reported for Zinc Chloride is 290 °C (554 °F) (NIOSH).
How should Zinc Chloride be stored?
Store below 40 °C (104 °F), preferably between 15 and 30 °C (59 and 86 °F), unless otherwise specified by manufacturer. Protect from freezing. /Zinc supplements/ (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Zinc Chloride
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