Sulfur tetrachloride is an inorganic compound with chemical formula SCl<sub>4</sub>. It has only been obtained as an unstable pale yellow solid. The corresponding SF<sub>4</sub> is a stable, useful reagent.
It is obtained by treating sulfur dichloride with chlorine at 193 K:
It melts with simultaneous decomposition above âÂÂ20 ðC.
Its solid structure is uncertain. It is probably the salt SCl<sub>3</sub><sup>+</sup>Cl<sup>âÂÂ</sup>, since related salts are known with noncoordinating anions. In contrast to this tetrachloride, SF<sub>4</sub> is a neutral molecule.
It decomposes above âÂÂ30 ðC (242 K) to sulfur dichloride and chlorine.
It hydrolyzes readily:
Sulfur tetrachloride reacts with water, producing hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide through the hydrolysis process. Thionyl chloride is an implied intermediate.
It can be oxidized by nitric acid: