Zinc as the most abundant trace metal in bone minerals, is an essential element that has effects on bone formation as well as inhibitory effects on bone resorbtion. Inclusion of zinc in apatites is not completely understood due to complexes in solution preventing the incorporation or the inclusion of defects. Some work has shown zinc addition by alternative synthesis routes, but the level of incorporation has not been reassessed. This work uses a newly developed approach whereby zinc is included in an amorphous phase and subsequently crystallized. Different phosphate reactants (ammonium, sodium or potassium phosphates) were mixed together with calcium salts (calcium nitrate, calcium chloride or calcium acetate) and the pH level adjusted (with ammonia, NaOH or KOH) to investigate the ease of forming an amorphous phase and the inclusion of zinc.