The electrodeposition of zinc from sulphate-tartrate baths on a vitreous carbon electrode has been studied. The influence of the tartrate ion on the reduction kinetics of Zn(II) metal ion, and on the mechanism of the electrodeposition process, has been investigated using potentiodynamic and potentiostatic electrochemical techniques and scanning electron microscopy. The voltammetric analysis has shown that the presence of tartrate species in the sulphate bath shifts the reduction potential of Zn(II) to more positive values. A set of equilibria have been proposed to represent the electrochemical process and the influence of pH. From the analysis of the chronoamperometric transients and the SEM images, an instantaneous nucleation with 2D growth at the initial stages has been proposed, and a nucleus density of the order of 109 cm−2 has been calculated from both techniques. In order to elucidate the correct mechanism of the electrodeposition process the results obtained from chronoamperometric transients must be corroborated by those of direct observation using microscopic techniques.