Zinc Acetate

Zinc acetate is the zinc salt of acetic acid, supplied by default as the dihydrate, Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O, CAS 5970-45-6, molecular weight 219.50. That gives 29.8% elemental zinc (65.38 divided by 219.50). The anhydrous salt, CAS 557-34-6, MW 183.48, runs higher at 35.6% zinc and is available to order where water of crystallisation is a formulation problem. In food applications zinc acetate carries the additive number E650 as a flavour enhancer, and pharmacopoeial grades are made to USP and Ph. Eur./BP. Solubility is the reason formulators reach for this salt rather than zinc oxide or zinc carbonate. The dihydrate dissolves freely in water at roughly 43 g/100 mL at 20 °C and is soluble in ethanol, which makes it workable in syrups, liquid concentrates, oral rinses and effervescent systems where an insoluble zinc source would settle or turn a solution hazy. It is also the conventional zinc source in lozenge bases. The trade-off is a faint acetic character that needs flavour work, and a degree of hygroscopicity: the dihydrate begins losing its water of crystallisation from about 100 °C and decomposes near 237 °C, so drying and hot processing steps need to be checked against the salt rather than assumed. Zinc is an essential trace element and zinc acetate is one of the permitted supplemental sources listed in major markets, including the EU list under Directive 2002/46/EC; confirm the current position for your destination market. Thovek makes no therapeutic claim for the material, and the nutrient-function wording permitted on finished packs varies by jurisdiction and remains the buyer's responsibility. The salt is of mineral origin, vegan and vegetarian suitable, and free from milk, egg, soy, fish, crustacean, gluten and nut allergens. Each lot is certified for assay and zinc content, with lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury by ICP-MS and chloride, sulphate and alkali limits to the monograph applied.