Uranyl chloride is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a fluorescent water soluble compound. Uranyl chloride also refers to inorganic compounds with the formula where n = 0, 1, 2, or 3. These are yellow salts.
Synthesis and structures
Anhydrous uranyl chloride is a coordination polymer. It reacts and depolymerizes upon treatment with water. The hydrates are also obtained by treating aqueous uranyl sulfate or uranyl acetate with hydrochloric acid. 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. The trihydrate is greenish-yellow. Both hydrates are fluorescent solids that are highly soluble in water.
The anhydrous material can be obtained by the reaction of oxygen with uranium tetrachloride:
The anhydrous material can also be obtained by the heating the hydrate under a stream of gaseous hydrogen chloride.ref name=Brauer/>
In terms of structures, all three of these compounds feature the uranyl center (trans-) bound to five additional ligands, which can include (bridging) chloride, water, or another uranyl oxygen.
Reactions The aquo ligands can be replaced by a variety of donors, e.g. THF. Uranyl chloride, and its two hydrates, ( and ) decompose in the presence of light. This photosensitivity over the years, from time to time, has attracted scientific interest and there have been various unsuccessful attempts to develop applications in photography using these compounds.
Safety Uranyl chloride is radioactive.
References
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