Gallium(III) chloride

Gallium(III) chloride
Names
	Other names Gallium trichloride, Trichlorogallium, Trichlorogallane
Identifiers
CAS Number	13450-90-3 ;
3D model (JSmol)	monomer: Interactive image; dimer: Interactive image; monohydrate: Interactive image;
ChemSpider	24229 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.033.268
PubChem CID	26010;
RTECS number	LW9100000;
UNII	4Y6GQD4915 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8031360 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/3ClH.Ga/h31H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: UPWPDUACHOATKO-UHFFFAOYSA-K ; InChI=1/3ClH.Ga/h31H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: UPWPDUACHOATKO-DFZHHIFOAO;
	SMILES monomer: Cl[Ga](Cl)Cl; dimer: Cl[Ga-]1(Cl)[Cl+] [Ga-]([Cl+]1)(Cl)Cl; monohydrate: Cl[Ga-](Cl)(Cl)[OH2+];
Properties
Chemical formula	GaCl3
Molar mass	176.073 g/mol (anhydrous); 194.10 g/mol (monohydrate)
Appearance	colorless needle-like crystals
Density	2.47 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
Melting point	77.9 °C (172.2 °F; 351.0 K) (anhydrous) ; 44.4 °C (monohydrate)
Boiling point	201 °C (394 °F; 474 K) (anhydrous)
Solubility in water	very soluble, > 800 g/l
Solubility	soluble in benzene, CCl4, CS2, and alkanes
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−63.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
Crystal structure	monoclinic
Space group	C2/m
Lattice constant	a = 11.95 Å, b = 6.86 Å, c = 7.05 Å α = 90°, β = 125.7°, γ = 90°
Lattice volume (V)	469 Å3
Hazards
	Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Corrosive. Causes serious eye damage. Causes severe skin burns.
	GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H290, H314
Precautionary statements	P234, P260, P264, P264+P265, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P321, P363, P390, P405, P406, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	3 0 1
Flash point	Non-flammable
	Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)	4700 mg/kg (rat, oral); 306 mg/kg (rat, subcutaneous); 47 mg/kg (rat, intravenous); 1408 mg/kg (rat, parenteral); 41 mg/kg (dog, intravenous);
Related compounds
Other anions	Gallium(III) fluoride; Gallium(III) bromide; Gallium(III) iodide;
Other cations	Boron trichloride; Aluminium chloride; Indium(III) chloride; Thallium(III) chloride;
Related compounds	Scandium(III) chloride
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Gallium(III) chloride is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula GaCl₃ which forms a monohydrate, GaCl₃·H₂O. Solid gallium(III) chloride is a deliquescent colorless crystals and exists as a dimer with the formula Ga₂Cl₆. It is colourless and soluble in virtually all solvents, even alkanes, which is unusual for a metal halide. It is the main precursor to most derivatives of gallium and a reagent in organic synthesis.

As a Lewis acid, GaCl₃ is milder than aluminium chloride. It is also easier to reduce than aluminium chloride. The coordination chemistry of Ga(III) and Fe(III) are similar, so gallium(III) chloride has been used as a diamagnetic analogue of ferric chloride.