Zinc hydroxide is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula Zn(OH)2. It is amphoteric in nature and can dissolve in either a strong base or an acid solution. It is often used as a galvanic substance to prevent corrosion of metal substrates.
Zinc hydroxide dissolves in an ammonia solution to form a water-soluble amine. However, the most widespread use of zinc hydroxide is due to its ability to galvanically protect steel when used as a sacrificial substance.
Even when steel is exposed to external corrosion facilitating elements such as moisture and chemicals, the steel is cathodically protected by the sacrificial corrosion of a zinc-bearing coating such as zinc hydroxide. This occurs because zinc is more electronegative (hence, reactive) than steel in the galvanic series.
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