A new Zn(II) complex with 2,2'bipyridine (bpy), chromate and nitrate groups, [Zn(bpy) 3 ](CrO 4 ) 0 . 5 NO 3 6.5H 2 O has been prepared and characterised with crystallographic and spectroscopic methods. The orthorhombic complex crystallises in the space group Ccc2 with the lattice constants a=13.992(3)Å, b=24.483(5)Å, c=21.556(4)Å and Z=8. The coordination environment about Zn(II) ion is nearly octahedral. The CrO 4 2 - and NO 3 - entities exhibit anionic position in the crystal. The electronic spectra enhanced with mathematical methods (filtration and deconvolution) exhibit the presence of vibrational fine structure in the CrO 4 2 - entity on the spin-forbidden 3 T 1 transition.