A lesser-known salt, zinc chloride has other functions as well as providing nutrition.
Once known as "butter of zinc," zinc chloride is a versatile chemical suitable for aiding many aspects of daily life. Zinc chloride easily binds itself to water, known as hygroscopy, so it is an ideal compound for maintaining water purity. Zinc chloride is also a conductor of electricity, making it a useful electrical compound, and it supplements the amount of zinc in both plants and animals, making it an important dietary compound.
Water Treatment
Zinc chloride reduces the speed of corrosion of other metals. It is because of this property that cooling tower owners use zinc chloride to prevent the interior of the tower from corroding as quickly. Zinc chloride is also present in drinking water as well as gas and oil wells.
Agriculture
In order to attain optimum plant growth, sufficient levels of zinc must be present. Farmers who live in areas where zinc is not as abundant can expose their crop to zinc solutions. Manufacturers combine zinc chloride with other chemical compounds known as chelating agents to create these zinc solutions.
Flux
Metal workers use zinc chloride in a flux before soldering or welding two pieces of metal together. A flux containing zinc chloride is a cleaning agent that removes any oxides or other impurities from the metal surfaces. Cleaning the metal with a zinc chloride flux increases the bond of two soldered metal pieces.
Dry-Cell Batteries
Manufacturers of dry-cell batteries use a zinc chloride paste to conduct the electricity and provide electrical power. The zinc chloride also acts to absorb moisture and inhibit corrosion. The low production cost of dry-cell batteries makes them perfect for devices that receive intermittent use, such as flashing barricade lights, navigation aids and electronic watches.
Tags: zinc chloride, chloride also, chloride flux, dry-cell batteries, zinc chloride
