Making ZMA

[candle25]

Molecular formula
Zn + 2C4H7NO4 --> C8H10N2O8ZnH2 + H2(gas)

It looks like reacting 2 moles of Aspartic acid per every 1 mole of Zn will give you 100% reaction. I would use a slight excess of aspartic though. I'm not sure about the solvent at the moment. I'll look at that when I get a chance. (I'm at work and supposed to be working on a method to remove SO4 from Nickel Sulfamate...lol). Be careful because H2 gas is highly flamible.

Anyone see a problem with this or suggest a solvent?

[spidey]

What is the full chemical name? I don't know what ZMA is.

[candle25]

Growing Doc. had asked me about how to make this. It is a mix of Zinc aspartate & Magnesium aspartate.

[spidey]

What is it's solubility in water? If it is not very water soluble, you could just mix water solutions of sodium aspartate and Zn(NO3)2 and the Zn salt of aspartic acid should crash out.

The same thing could be done to make Mg aspartate (using Mg(NO3)2).

I don't think the reaction you have above with aspartic acid and Zn metal will work because aspartic acid is too weak of an acid for that reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate. Perhaps if the reaction were done neat (no solvent) at high temperature (as a melt) it might work.

[candle25]

I'm not sure of solubility. All my research links aren't working for some reason. I'm having a hell of a day...lol

[Growing Doc.]

I wish you all boys good luck. ZMA might be good for our PCTs!