Anhydrous zinc chloride (ZnCl2, left) and hydrated zinc sulphate (ZnSO4.7H2O, right) on a watch glass. Zinc chloride is corrosive, and zinc sulphate is a skin irritant. Zinc chloride is used in chemical laboratories to catalyse organic reactions, and is used in industry to clean metal oxide coatings. Zinc sulphate has a wide range of uses, in paints, fertilisers, animal feeds, preservatives and medical drugs.