Zinc Acetate Synthesis Lab Report

Table 1, shows the exact chemicals used to prepare silica solution, zinc acetate solution and zinc nitrate solution. For the zinc acetate, adding 2-propanol to the hydrated zinc acetate will result in a white solution with some precipitations of zinc acetate in the bottom of the beaker, then by adding 2.1 grams of diethanolamine, ratio is 1:1, the solution will be transparent; due to the effect of diethanolamine which increases the pH of the solution, make it basic.

Dissolving zinc nitrate in 2-propanol is much easier than zinc acetate, therefore adding another reagent like diethanolamine is not necessary. The result is a clear transparent solution without any precipitations.

For both the zinc acetate and zinc nitrate solutions, will be stirred using magnetic stirrer for around 20 min for zinc nitrate and 45 min for zinc acetate, and then leave them for activation for one day. After one day, the zinc nitrate solution is still clear with no precipitations. But for zinc acetate very dense precipitations occurs on the beaker wall and around the magnetic bar inside the beaker, which will be dissolved again by stirring for 30 min, but the solution will not be clear but white, and stirring it every time before using, is obligatory. …show more content…
Table 1: Chemicals and reagents used for silica, zinc acetate, zinc nitrate