It is used for a source of the zinc ion. It can also be used alone or with phenols for preserving railway ties, fireproofing timber, and with ammonium chloride as a flux for soldering and etching of metals. It is used as a moderate-strength lewis acid.

This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.