Zinc chromite (ZnCr2O4) nanocrystalline powders were obtained by two different chemical routes: the precursor method and the solution combustion method involving glycine-nitrates. The complex compound precursors, [ZnCr2(NH2CH2COO)(8)]center dot 9H(2)O and [ZnCr2(NH2CH2COOH)(4.5)]center dot(NO3)(8)center dot 6H(2)O, were. characterized by chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and thermal analysis. The structure, morphology, surface chemistry and magnetic properties of ZnCr2O4 powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared and Raman spectroscopy (RS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and magnetic measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the chromite spinel phase with good crystallinity and an average crystallite size of approximately 18-27 nm. The band gap values ranged between 3.31 and 3.33 eV. The magnetic measurements indicated an antiferromagnetic transition at T-N similar to 17.5/18 K. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.