Polonium tetrachloride
Names
Systematic IUPAC name
Polonium tetrachloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
UNII
  • InChI=1S/4ClH.Po/h4*1H;/p-4
    Key: GTPWZRGWXJYBBI-UHFFFAOYSA-J
  • [Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Po]
Properties
PoCl4
Molar mass 350.79 g/mol
Appearance Bright yellow crystalline solid[1]
Melting point ≈ 300 °C (in chlorine)[1]
Boiling point 390 °C (734 °F; 663 K)
soluble,[vague] but rather slow hydrolysis
Solubility very soluble in hydrochloric acid and thionyl chloride, moderately soluble in ethanol and acetone, decomposes in dilute nitric acid
Related compounds
Other anions
Polonium tetrafluoride
Polonium tetrabromide
Polonium tetraiodide
Other cations
Selenium tetrachloride
Tellurium tetrachloride
Related compounds
Polonium dichloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Polonium tetrachloride (also known as polonium(IV) chloride) is a chemical compound with the formula PoCl4. The salt is a hygroscopic bright yellow crystalline solid at room temperature. Above 200 °C, it tends to decompose into polonium dichloride and excess chlorine, similar to selenium tetrachloride and tellurium tetrachloride.[1]

Structure

Polonium tetrachloride is either monoclinic or triclinic.

Appearance

Polonium tetrachloride is bright yellow at room temperature. At its melting point (300 °C), it becomes straw yellow, and at its boiling point (390 °C), it becomes scarlet. Its vapours are purple-brown until 500 °C, when they turn blue-green.[1]

Preparation

Polonium tetrachloride may be prepared by:

Chemistry

Polonium tetrachloride forms a complex with two moles of tributyl phosphate.

Like selenium tetrachloride and tellurium tetrachloride, polonium tetrachloride forms PoCl
5
and PoCl2−
6
halogen complexes.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Holleman, Arnold Frederik; Wiberg, Egon (2001), Wiberg, Nils (ed.), Inorganic Chemistry, translated by Eagleson, Mary; Brewer, William, San Diego/Berlin: Academic Press/De Gruyter, p. 594, ISBN 0-12-352651-5