Iodine trichloride

Iodine trichloride
Names
IUPAC name
Iodine trichloride
Other names
Diiodine hexachloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.011.582
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Cl3I/c1-4(2)3 Y
    Key: PAWIVBWALDNUJP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • InChI=1/Cl3I/c1-4(2)3
    Key: PAWIVBWALDNUJP-UHFFFAOYAF
Properties
I2Cl6
Molar mass 466.5281 g/mol
Appearance yellow solid
Density 3.11 g/cm3
Melting point 63 °C (145 °F; 336 K)
−90.2×10−6 cm3/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Iodine trichloride is an interhalogen compound of iodine and chlorine. It is bright yellow but upon time and exposure to light it turns red due to the presence of elemental iodine. In the solid state is present as a planar dimer I2Cl6, with two bridging Cl atoms.

It can be prepared by reacting iodine with an excess of liquid chlorine at −70 °C, or heating a mixture of liquid iodine and chlorine gas to 105 °C. In the molten state it is conductive, which may indicate dissociation:

I2Cl6 ICl+
2
+ ICl
4

It is an oxidizing agent, capable of causing fire on contact with organic materials. That oxidizing power also makes it a useful catalyst for organic chlorination reactions.

Iodine trichloride reacts with concentrated hydrochloric acid, forming tetrachloroiodic acid:

ICl3 + HCl → HICl4