Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous electrolyte devoid of boric acid and ammonium for the electrodeposition of zinc coatings and to a method for producing such an electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises (a) Zn2+ in a concentration of 15 to 70 g/L; (b) Cl? in a concentration of 100 to 200 g/L; (c) K+ and/or Na+ in a total concentration of 0.75 to 6.0 mol/L; (d) acetate in a concentration of 5.0 to 45 g/L; (e) glycine and/or alanine in a total concentration of 0.5 to 30 g/L; and (f) water. The electrolyte has a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. In a preferred variant, the electrolyte contains (g) nicotinic acid and/or (h) ethoxylated thiodiglycol. The invention also relates to a method for producing a component having a zinc coating, which uses the electrolyte.