Plutonium oxychloride
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Other names
Plutonium oxide chloride
| |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
|
|
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| PuOCl | |
| Molar mass | 295 g/mol |
| Appearance | green crystals |
| Density | 8.81 g/cm3 |
| insoluble | |
| Structure | |
| tetragonal | |
| P4/nmm | |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions
|
Plutonium oxyfluoride Plutonium oxybromide Plutonium oxyiodide |
Other cations
|
Lanthanum oxychloride Neodymium oxychloride Americium(III) oxychloride Curium(III) oxychloride Actinium oxychloride |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Plutonium oxychloride is an inorganic compound of plutonium, oxygen, and chlorine with the chemical formula PuOCl.[1]
Synthesis
[edit]It is produced in a reaction of plutonium(III) oxide with calcium chloride:[2]
- Pu2O3 + CaCl2 → 2PuOCl + CaO
It is also formed in trace quantities in the reaction between plutonium trichloride and calcium oxide, which mainly produces plutonium monoxide:[3]
- PuCl3 + CaO → PuOCl + CaCl2
The compound is also synthesized by heating PuCl3·6H2O in a sealed tube, or by treating PuO2 or PuCl3 at 650 °C with a vapour mixture prepared via bubbling H2 through aqueous HCl.[4]
Physical properties
[edit]Plutonium oxychloride appears as a green or blue-green crystals (space group P4/nmm[5]) that are insoluble in water but dissolve in dilute acidic solutions. X-ray diffraction analysis of PuOCl reveals a tetragonal crystal structure, with two molecules present in each unit cell.[6]
Chemical properties
[edit]PuOCl reacts with calcium (dissolved in liquid calcium chloride) or high-temperature barium vapour to form plutonium monoxide.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Axler, K. M.; Sheldon, R. I. (April 1992). "The effect of initial composition on PuOCl formation in the direct oxide reduction of PuO2". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 187 (2): 183–185. doi:10.1016/0022-3115(92)90551-U. ISSN 0022-3115. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Saboungi, Marie-Louise; Kojima, Hiranao (1993). Proceedings of the International Symposium on Molten Salt Chemistry and Technology 1993. Electrochemical Society. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-56677-028-6. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b Reshetnikov, Fedor G. (1 January 2003). "Identification and preparation of plutonium monoxide". Mendeleev Communications. 13 (4): 155–156. doi:10.1070/MC2003v013n04ABEH001740. ISSN 0959-9436. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Abstracts of Declassified Documents. Technical Information Service. 1955. p. 45. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Crystal Data: Inorganic compounds. National Bureau of Standards. 1972. p. 121. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Davidson, Norman R.; Katz, Joseph J. (23 February 1960). "Method for the preparation of plutonium halides and oxyhalides". Google Patents. Retrieved 11 July 2025.