We describe a simple etching route for the fabrication of zinc oxalate nanowires, which can be easily converted to zinc oxide nanowires by a simple decomposition process. The zinc oxalate nanowires can be obtained in restricted conditions, for example, when a zinc foil is immersed in ethanolic or propanolic oxalic acid. Interestingly, the nanowires are not obtained in aqueous, methanolic or butanolic oxalic acid. The solubility of zinc oxalate in the solvents and position of favorable precipitation are primarily responsible for determining the morphology of zinc oxalate. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.