The title compound, [Zn(C8H5O4)(2)(C10H8N2)(2)], was obtained by the hydrothermal reaction of ZnSO4.7H(2)O with phthalic acid (H(2)pht) and 4,40-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy). Crystallographic analysis shows that it has a one-dimensional double-chain structure via hydrogen-bonding interactions. Each Zn-II atom, adopting a distorted tetrahedral geometry, is coordinated by two N atoms from two 4,4'-bipy ligands, with Zn-N distances of 2.054 (4) and 2.104 (4) Angstrom, and by two O atoms from symmetry-related Hpht(-) ligands, with Zn-O distances of 1.921 (4) and 2.019 (4) Angstrom.