The synthesis of crystalline zinc phosphates (alpha-hopeite phase) through the metathetic pathway has been investigated. The reaction has been carried out by room-temperature grinding. High lattice energy of the by-product NaCl has driven the reaction in the forward direction, and as a result, stable phosphate phases have been synthesized. Reaction of a different phosphorus source (like Na3PO4, Na2HPO4, NaH2PO4, and K2HPO4) With ZnCl2 has been attempted. The structural, vibrational, thermal, optical, and chemical properties of synthesized powders are determined by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and diffused reflectance spectra (DR) in the UV-vis range. The direct band gap of the title compound was determined to be 3.6 +/- 0.2 eV. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.