Neptunium tetrachloride

Neptunium tetrachloride is a binary inorganic compound of neptunium metal and chlorine with the chemical formula NpCl4.[1][2]

Neptunium tetrachloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/4ClH.Np/h4*1H;/q;;;;+4/p-4
    Key: XFAAJSLPXNXKKA-UHFFFAOYSA-J
  • [Np+4].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-]
Properties
Cl4Np
Molar mass 379 g·mol−1
Appearance orange-brown crystals
Density 4.95 g/cm3
Melting point 538 °C (1,000 °F; 811 K)
Related compounds
Related compounds
Uranium tetrachloride, Thorium tetrachloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Synthesis

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The compound can be prepared by:

2 NpN + 8 HCl → N2 + 4 H2 + 2 NpCl4
  • the reaction of neptunium sulfide with HCl:
Np2S3 + 8 HCl → 2 NpCl4 + 3 H2S + H2
NpO2 + CCl4 → NpCl4 + CO2

Other reactions are also used.[5]

Physical properties

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NpCl4 crystallizes in tetragonal crystal system of space group I4/amd.[6]

Chemical properties

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The compound reacts with ammonia to produce neptunium trichloride:[3]

6 NpCl4 + 2 NH3 → 6 NpCl3 + 6 HCl + N2

Neptunium tetrachloride can be reduced to neptunium trichloride by hydrogen at 450 °C.

2 NpCl4 + H2 → 2 NpCl3 + 2HCl

References

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  1. ^ "WebElements Periodic Table » Neptunium » neptunium tetrachloride". webelements.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  2. ^ Stone, J. A.; Jones, E. R. (15 February 1971). "Mössbauer Spectra and Magnetic Susceptibility of Neptunium Tetrachloride below 85°K". The Journal of Chemical Physics. 54 (4): 1713–1718. Bibcode:1971JChPh..54.1713S. doi:10.1063/1.1675076. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 5. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  4. ^ Fried, S. (1947). The Basic Dry Chemistry of Neptunium. Atomic Energy Commission. p. 1. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  5. ^ Ahrland, S.; Bagnall, K. W.; Brown, D. (7 June 2016). The Chemistry of the Actinides: Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry. Elsevier. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-4831-5934-8. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  6. ^ Spirlet, Marie-Rose; Jemine, Xavier; Goffart, Jean (1 January 1995). "A single-crystal X-ray structure determination of neptunium tetrachloride". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 216 (2): 269–271. doi:10.1016/0925-8388(94)01264-I. ISSN 0925-8388. Retrieved 1 April 2024.