Chloride glasses of the ZnCl2 and 20KCl-20BaCl(2)-60ZnCl(2)- 0.5ErCl(3) systems were prepared using NH4Cl as a dehydrating and chlorinating agent, under the melt-quenching method. Water- and ammonium-chloride-related residues in ZnCl2 glasses were investigated by infrared and near-infrared absorption spectra. Water, Zn-OH, ClO, ClO2-, Zn2+- coordinated water, free NH3, NH4+, and Zn2+-coordinated NH3 were identified in ZnCl2 glasses. 20KCl-20BaCl(2)-60ZnCl(2)-0.5ErCl(3) glasses prepared by melting at 500degreesC for 20 min, under reduced pressure, contained the smallest amounts of water, Zn-OH, and Zn2+-coordinated NH3 and showed strong Er3+ upconversion fluorescence.