Plutonyl chloride

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Plutonyl chloride
Names
Other names
  • Plutonium(VI) chloride oxide
  • Plutonium dichloride dioxide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/2ClH.2O.Pu/h2*1H;;;/q;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: FBPQBFGMDMYLDF-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • hexahydrate: InChI=1S/2ClH.6H2O.2O.Pu/h2*1H;6*1H2;;;/q;;;;;;;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: GLHHUAGFMJUIQX-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • O=[Pu](Cl)(Cl)=O
  • hexahydrate: O.O.O.O.O.O.O=[Pu](Cl)(Cl)=O
Properties
PuO2Cl2
Molar mass 347 g·mol−1
soluble
Related compounds
Other anions
 Plutonyl fluoride
Other cations
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Plutonyl chloride is an compound of plutonium, oxygen, and chlorine with the chemical formula PuO2Cl2. It is an inorganic compound featuring one plutonium atom in the +6 oxidation state, along with two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms. It was initially isolated by Alenchikova et al. in 1959.[1]

Synthesis

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The plutonyl chloride solution can be prepared by oxidizing tetravalent plutonium chloride with chlorine. The plutonyl chloride is then isolated by evaporation of the solution in vacuum at room temperature.[2]

Physical properties

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Plutonyl chloride is soluble in water.[3] It is known as the hexahydrate PuO2Cl2·6H2O, an unstable solid which decomposes to a plutonium(IV) compound over time[4] via alpha radiation from the plutonium.[5]

Uses

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Plutonyl chloride and its complexes are important in the context of nuclear fuel reprocessing.[6][clarification needed]

References

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  1. ^ Plutonium: A Bibliography of Selected Report Literature. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Technical Information. 1961. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  2. ^ Scientific Information Report. United States Central Intelligence Agency. 1959. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  3. ^ The Reactor Handbook: Engineering. Technical Information Service, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. 1955. p. 621. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  4. ^ Morss, L. R.; Edelstein, Norman M.; Fuger, Jean (31 December 2007). The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements (3rd ed., Volumes 1-5). Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-1-4020-3598-2. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  5. ^ Hodge, Harold C.; Stannard, J. N.; Hursh, J. B. (29 June 2013). Uranium · Plutonium Transplutonic Elements. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 328. ISBN 978-3-642-65551-7. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  6. ^ Berthon, Claude; Boubals, Nathalie; Charushnikova, Iraida A.; Collison, David; Cornet, Stéphanie M.; Den Auwer, Christophe; Gaunt, Andrew J.; Kaltsoyannis, Nikolas; May, Iain; Petit, Sebastien; Redmond, Michael P.; Reilly, Sean D.; Scott, Brian L. (18 October 2010). "The Reaction Chemistry of Plutonyl(VI) Chloride Complexes with Triphenyl Phosphineoxide and Triphenyl Phosphinimine". Inorganic Chemistry. 49 (20): 9554–9562. doi:10.1021/ic101251a. ISSN 0020-1669. PMID 20839846. Retrieved 2 October 2025.