Indium(I) chloride
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Indium(I) chloride (also indium monochloride) is the chemical compound with the formula InCl. Indium monochloride occurs as a yellow cubic form below 120 °C and above this temperature as a red orthorhombic form.[2] InCl is one of three known indium chlorides.
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| Appearance | red and yellow |
| Density | 4.218 g/cm3[1] |
| Melting point | 216 °C (421 °F; 489 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Synthesis and structure
InCl can be prepared by heating indium metal with indium trichloride in a sealed tube.[3][4]
According to X-ray crystallography, the structure of the yellow polymorph resembles that of sodium chloride except that the Cl-In-Cl angles are not 90°, but range between 71 and 130°. The red (high T) polymorph crystallizes in the thallium(I) iodide motif.[5][6]
Reactivity
The relatively high energy level of the 5s electrons of the indium center make InCl susceptible to oxidation as well as disproportionation into In(0) and InCl3.[2] Tetrahydrofuran (THF) appears to facilitate the disproptionation of InCl as well as other indium(I) halides.[2]
History
Indium(I) chloride was first isolated in 1926 as part of an investigation on the compounds formed between indium and chlorine.[7]