Polonium tetrachloride

Polonium tetrachloride (also known as polonium(IV) chloride) is a chemical compound with the formula PoCl₄. The salt is a hygroscopic bright yellow crystalline solid at room temperature. Above 200 °C, it tends to decompose into polonium dichloride and excess chlorine, similar to selenium tetrachloride and tellurium tetrachloride.

Structure

Polonium tetrachloride is either monoclinic or triclinic.

Appearance

Polonium tetrachloride is bright yellow at room temperature. At its melting point (300 °C), it becomes straw yellow, and at its boiling point (390 °C), it becomes scarlet. Its vapours are purple-brown until 500 °C, when they turn blue-green.

Preparation

Polonium tetrachloride may be prepared by:

• halogenation of polonium dioxide with dry hydrogen chloride, gaseous thionyl chloride, or phosphorus pentachloride;
• dissolving of polonium metal in hydrochloric acid;
• heating polonium dioxide to 200 °C in carbon tetrachloride vapour;
• reaction of polonium metal with dry chlorine gas in 200 °C.

Chemistry

Polonium tetrachloride forms a complex with two moles of tributyl phosphate.

Like selenium tetrachloride and tellurium tetrachloride, polonium tetrachloride forms and halogen complexes.

References