Zirconium(III) chloride

Zirconium(III) Chloride
Names
IUPAC name
Zirconium trichloride
Identifiers
10241-03-9 Yes
ChemSpider 127679
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 144719
Properties
Molecular formula
Cl3Zr
Molar mass 197.58 g·mol−1
Appearance Blue-black crystals
Density 3.05 g/cm3[1]
Melting point 627 °C (1,161 °F; 900 K)
at 760 mmHg[1]
Reacts[1]
Solubility Soluble in phenyls, CS2
Structure
Crystal structure Hexagonal, hP6[2]
Space group P63/mcm, No. 193[2]
Point group 6/m 2/m 2/m[2]
Lattice constant a = 6.36 Å, c = 6.14 Å[2]
Lattice constant α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 120°
Thermochemistry
Specific
heat capacity (C)
96.21 J/mol·K[3]
145.79 J/mol·K[3]
Std enthalpy of
formation (ΔfHo298)
−714.21 kJ/mol[3]
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Zirconium(III) chloride is an inorganic compound with formula ZrCl3. It is a blue-black solid that is highly sensitive to air.

Preparation

The material was first claimed by Ruff and Wallstein who reduced zirconium tetrachloride with aluminium to give impure samples.[4] Subsequently, the problem with aluminium contamination was solved when it was prepared by reduction using zirconium metal:[5]

Zr + 3 ZrCl4 → 4 ZrCl3

When aluminium is used as the reducing agent with zirconium tetrachloride, a series of choloroaluminates are formed, for example [Zr(AlCl4)2(AlCl4)2] and Zr(AlCl4)3.[6]

Since the trihalides, such as zirconium trichloride, are comparatively nonvolatile, contamination can be avoided by using a gaseous reductant. For example, zirconium trichloride can be prepared by reduction of zirconium tetrachloride with hydrogen.[7]

ZrCl4 + ½ H2 → ZrCl3 + HCl

Structure

Some zirconium halides (ZrCl3, ZrBr3, and ZrI3) have structures similar to HfI3. They also have similar space group (P63/mcm) and hexagonal structure with 2 molecules in the cell.[2] The magnetic susceptibility of zirconium trichloride suggests metal-metal interactions of the unpaired electron on each Zr(III) center. The magnetic moment of ZrCl3 (0.4 BM) indicates considerable overlap of metal orbitals.[8]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lide, David R., ed. (2009). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (90th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-9084-0.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Douglas, Bodie E.; Ho, Shih-Ming (2007). Structure and Chemistry of Crystalline Solids. New York: Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. p. 101. ISBN 0-387-26147-8.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Zirconium chloride in Linstrom, P.J.; Mallard, W.G. (eds.) NIST Chemistry WebBook, NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD. http://webbook.nist.gov (retrieved 2014-06-23)
  4. Ruff, Otto; Wallstein, Richard (1923). "Reduktion anorganischer Halogenide III.1) Die Reduktion des Zirkontetrachlorids". Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie 128: 96. doi:10.1002/zaac.19231280110.
  5. Hoffman, David M.; Lee, Samkeun (1992). "Synthesis of pyridine complexes of zirconium(III) chloride and the apparent oxidation to zirconium(IV) by a nitrile". Inorganic Chemistry 31 (13): 2675. doi:10.1021/ic00039a002.
  6. Larsen, E. M.; Moyer, James W.; Gil-Arnao, Francisco.; Camp, Michael J. (1974). "Synthesis of crystalline zirconium trihalides by reduction of tetrahalides in molten aluminum halides. Nonreduction of hafnium". Inorganic Chemistry 13 (3): 574. doi:10.1021/ic50133a015.
  7. Newnham, I. E.; Watts, J. A. (1960). "The Preparation of the Anhydrous Zirconium Trihalides". Journal of the American Chemical Society 82 (9): 2113. doi:10.1021/ja01494a006.
  8. Wells, A.F. Structural Inorganic Chemistry. Oxford Science Publications, 1975, 5th ed, 417-420.