Uranyl chloride refers to inorganic compounds with the formula UO2Cl2(H2O)n where n = 0, 1, or 3. These are yellow-colored salts.
Synthesis and structures
The hydrates are obtained by dissolving uranyl sulfate or uranyl acetate in hydrochloric acid followed by crystallization from concentrated solutions. Depending on the method of drying, one obtains the mono- or the trihydrate. The monohydrate is described as a yellow, sulfur-like powder. It is very hygroscopic.[2] The trihydrate is greenish-yellow. Both hydrates are fluorescent solids that are highly soluble in water.[3]
The anhydrous material can be obtained by the reaction of oxygen with uranium tetrachloride:
UCl4 + O2 → UO2Cl2 + Cl2
In terms of structures, all three of these compounds feature the uranyl center (trans-UO22+) bound to five additional ligands, which can include (bridging) chloride, water, or another uranyl oxygen.[4][5]
^Debets, P. C. (1968). "The structures of uranyl chloride and its hydrates". Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. 24 (3): 400–402. Bibcode:1968AcCrB..24..400D. doi:10.1107/S056774086800244X.
^F. Hein, S. Herzog (1963). "Uranyl Chloride". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 2. NY, NY: Academic Press. p. 1439.
^Taylor, J. C.; Wilson, P. W. (1973). "The Structure of Anhydrous Uranyl Chloride by Powder Neutron Diffraction". Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. 29 (5): 1073–1076. Bibcode:1973AcCrB..29.1073T. doi:10.1107/S0567740873003882.
^Wilkerson, Marianne P.; Burns, Carol J.; Paine, Robert T.; Scott, Brian L. (1999). "Synthesis and Crystal Structure of UO2Cl2(THF)3: A Simple Preparation of an Anhydrous Uranyl Reagent". Inorganic Chemistry. 38 (18): 4156–4158. doi:10.1021/ic990159g.
"Uranium". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. V27. 1911. p. 788.
Heyes, S.J. (1998). "Lanthanides & Actinides". Four Lectures in 2nd Year Inorganic Chemistry. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2011.