The products of aqueous Zn(II) sorption on high-surface-area alumina powders (Linde-A) have been studied using XAFS spectroscopy as a function of Zn(II) sorption density (Gamma = 0.2 to 3.3 mu mol/m(2)) at pH values of 7.0 to 8.2. Over equilibration times of 15-111 h, we find that at low sorption densities (Gamma = 0.2-1.1 mu mol/m(2)) Zn(II) forms predominantly inner-sphere bidentate surface complexes with AlO6 polyhedra, whereas at higher sorption densities (Gamma = 1.5 to 3.5 mu mol/m(2)), we find evidence for the formation of a mixed-metal Zn(II)-Al(III) hydroxide coprecipitate with a hydrotalcite-type local structure. These conclusions are based on an analysis of first- and second-neighbor interatomic distances derived from EXAFS spectra collected under ambient conditions on wet samples. At low sorption densities the sorption mechanism involves a transformation from six-coordinated Zn-hexaaquo solution complexes (with an average Zn-O distance of 2.07 Angstrom) to four-coordinated surface complexes (with an average Zn-O distance of 1.97 Angstrom) as described by the reaction =Al(OHa)(OHb) + Zn(H2O)(6)(2+) --> =Al(OHa')(OHb')Zn(OHc')(OHd') + 4H(2)O + zH(+), where =Al(OHa)(OHb) represents edge-sharing sites of Al(O,OH,OH2)(6) octahedra to which Zn(O,OH,OH2)(4) bonds in a bidentate fashion. The proton release consistent with this reaction (z = a-a' + b-b' + 4-c'-d'), and with bond valence analysis falls in the range of O to 2 H+/Zn(II) when hydrolysis of the adsorbed Zn(II) complex is neglected. This interpretation suggests that proton release is likely a strong function of the coordination chemistry of the surface hydroxyl groups. At higher sorption densities (1.5 to 3.5 mu mol/m(2)), a high-amplitude, second-shell feature in the Fourier transform of the EXAFS spectra indicates the formation of a three-dimensional mixed-metal coprecipitate, with a hydrotalcite-like local structure. Nitrate anions presumably satisfy the positive layer charge of the Al(III)-Zn(II) hydroxide layers in which the Zn/Al ratio falls in the range of 1:1 to 2:1. Our results for the higher Gamma -value sorption samples suggest that Zn-hydrotalcite-like phases may be a significant sink for Zn(II) in natural or catalytic systems containing soluble alumina compounds.