The role of zinc sulfate

Zinc sulfate, also known as zinc sulfate, is a white or colorless crystal with no odor and a slightly astringent taste. It is a chemical substance commonly used in chemistry and is also common in life. Zinc sulfate has many uses, but also many dangers. For example, zinc sulfate is very harmful to the human body. It is moderately irritating to eyes. If taken accidentally, it may cause dizziness, nausea and other discomfort. So, what does zinc sulfate do? Let’s take a look at it together.

【I】Chemical properties

Pure zinc sulfate does not turn yellow when stored in air for a long time, but loses water and becomes white powder when placed in dry air. There are many kinds of hydrates: the stable hydrate in equilibrium with water in the range of 0-39℃ is zinc sulfate heptahydrate, in the range of 39-60℃ it is zinc sulfate hexahydrate, and in the range of 60-100℃ it is zinc sulfate monohydrate. When heated to 280°C, various hydrates completely lose their crystal water, decompose into zinc oxysulfate at 680°C, further decompose above 750°C, and finally decompose into zinc oxide and sulfur trioxide at around 930°C. ZnSO4·7H2O and MSO4·7H2O (M = Mg, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) form mixed crystals within a certain range. It reacts with alkali to form zinc hydroxide precipitate, and reacts with barium salt to form barium sulfate precipitate.

【II】Preparation

Zinc oxide is added into dilute sulfuric acid solution to make a slurry. After the reaction is complete, it is filtered, and zinc powder is added to replace copper, cadmium, nickel, etc., filtered, the filtrate is heated, potassium permanganate is added to oxidize impurities such as iron and manganese, filtered, clarified, concentrated, cooled and crystallized, centrifuged and dried to obtain the product. It can also be produced by leaching roasted zinc ore powder with sulfuric acid.

【Three】Use

1. Industry

It is the main raw material for the manufacture of zinc barium white and zinc salts. It can also be used as a mordant for printing and dyeing, a preservative for wood and leather, and an important auxiliary raw material for the production of viscose fiber and vinylon fiber. In addition, it is also used in electroplating and electrolysis industries, and can also be used to manufacture cables.

Cooling water is the largest amount of water used in industry. The cooling water in the closed-circulation cooling system must not corrode or scale the metal, so it must be treated. This process is called water stabilization, and zinc sulfate is used as a water stabilizer.

2. Medicine

Used as an emetic in medicine.

3. Agriculture

It can be used to prevent diseases in fruit tree nurseries. It is also a commonly used fertilizer to supplement zinc trace element fertilizer for crops. It can be used as base fertilizer, foliar fertilizer, etc.