Thorium(IV) chloride
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| Template:Longitem | ThCl4 |
| Molar mass | 373.849 g/mol |
| Appearance | white needles hygroscopic |
| Density | 4.59 g/cm3, solid |
| Melting point | Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures |
| Boiling point | Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures |
| Template:Longitem | tetragonal |
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Thorium(IV) chloride describes a family of inorganic compounds with the formula ThCl4(H2O)n. Both the anhydrous and tetrahydrate (n = 4) forms are known. They are hygroscopic, water-soluble white salts.
Structures
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The structure of thorium(IV) chloride features 8-coordinate Th centers with doubly bridging chloride ligands.[1]
Synthesis
ThCl4 was an intermediate in the original isolation of thorium metal by Jons Jacob Berzelius.[2]
Thorium(IV) chloride can be produced in a variety of ways. One method is a carbothermic reaction, 700 °C to 2600 °C, involving thorium oxides and carbon in a stream of chlorine gas:
- ThO2 + 2Script error: No such module "String".C + 4Script error: No such module "String".Cl2 → ThCl4 + 2Script error: No such module "String".CO
The chlorination reaction can be effected with carbon tetrachloride:[3][4]
- Th(C2O4)2 + CCl4 → ThCl4 + 3Script error: No such module "String".CO + 3Script error: No such module "String".CO2
In another two-step method, thorium metal reacts with ammonium chloride:
- Th + 6Script error: No such module "String".NH4Cl → (NH4)2ThCl6 + 4Script error: No such module "String".NH3 + 2Script error: No such module "String".H2
The hexachloride salt is then heated at 350 °C under a high vacuum to produce ThCl4.[5]
Reactions
- Lewis base adducts
ThCl4 reacts with Lewis bases to give molecular adducts, such as ThCl4(DME)2 and ThCl4(TMEDA)2.[5]
- Reduction to Th metal
Thorium(IV) chloride is an intermediate in the purification of thorium, which can be affected by:
- Reduction of ThCl4 with alkali metals.
- Electrolysis of anhydrous thorium(IV) chloride in fused mixture of NaCl and KCl.
- Ca reduction of a mixture of ThCl4 with anhydrous zinc chloride.[6]
References
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