Americium(III) chloride

Americium(III) chloride

Names
IUPAC name Americium(III) chloride
Systematic IUPAC name Americium(3+) chloride
Other names Americium chloride Americium trichloride
Identifiers
CAS Registry Number	13464-46-5 N
ChemSpider	15964177 Y
InChI InChI=1S/Am.3ClH/h;3*1H/q+3;;;/p-3 Y Key: GQKWPBIZTINWCF-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y
Jmol-3D images	Image
SMILES [Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Am+3]
Properties
Molecular formula	AmCl3
Molar mass	349.42 g·mol−1
Appearance	Light red, opaque crystals
Density	5.87 g cm−3[1]
Melting point	715 °C (1,319 °F; 988 K)[2]
Boiling point	850 °C (1,560 °F; 1,120 K)[1]
Structure
Crystal structure	hexagonal (UCl3 type), hP8
Space group	P63/m, No. 176
Coordination geometry	Tricapped trigonal prismatic (nine-coordinate)
Related compounds
Other cations	Europium(III) chloride
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
N verify (what is: Y/N?)
Infobox references

Americium(III) chloride or americium trichloride is the chemical compound composed of americium and chlorine with the formula AmCl₃. It forms pink hexagonal crystals. In the solid state each americium atom has nine chlorine atoms as near neighbours, at approximately the same distance, in a tricapped trigonal prismatic configuration.^[3][4]

The hexahydrate has a monocline crystal structure with: a = 970,2 pm, b = 656,7 pm and c = 800,9 pm; β = 93° 37'; space group: P2/n.^[5]

Reactions

An americium(III) chloride electrorefining method has been investigated to separate mixtures of lanthanides, since the standard Gibbs free energy of formation of americium(III) chloride is much different than the rest of the lanthanide chlorides.^[6] This can be used to remove americium from plutonium by melting the crude mixture together with salts such as sodium chloride.^[7]

References