The spectra of the ZnC2H5 radical and its cation have been recorded by two photoionization techniques, resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization and zero electron kinetic energy spectroscopy, respectively. The ionization potential of the radical has been determined along with a number of vibrational frequencies in the ground state of the cation and the excited state of the neutral. Based upon the spectroscopic data, models for the metal-carbon bonding in metal alkyl radicals are proposed that predict relative bond strengths for a number of species.