Gallium trichloride

Gallium trichloride is the chemical compound with the formula GaCl3. Solid gallium trichloride exists as a dimer with the formula Ga2Cl6. It is colourless and soluble in virtually all solvents, even alkanes, which is truly unusual for a metal halide. It is the main precursor to most derivatives of gallium and a reagent in organic synthesis.

Gallium trichloride
Names
Other names
Gallium(III) chloride, Trichlorogallium, Trichlorogallane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.033.268
RTECS number
  • LW9100000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/3ClH.Ga/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Y
    Key: UPWPDUACHOATKO-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y
  • InChI=1/3ClH.Ga/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3
    Key: UPWPDUACHOATKO-DFZHHIFOAO
  • monomer: Cl[Ga](Cl)Cl
  • dimer: Cl[Ga-]1(Cl)[Cl+] [Ga-]([Cl+]1)(Cl)Cl
Properties
GaCl
3
Molar mass 176.073 g/mol
Appearance colorless crystals
deliquescent
Density 2.47 g/cm3
2.053 g/cm3 at melting point
Melting point 77.9 °C (172.2 °F; 351.0 K) (anhydrous)
44.4 °C (hydrate)
Boiling point 201 °C (394 °F; 474 K)
very soluble
Solubility soluble in benzene, CCl4, CS2
−63.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
3
0
1
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
4700 mg/kg (rat, oral)
Related compounds
Other anions
 Gallium(III) fluoride
Gallium(III) bromide
Gallium(III) iodide
Other cations
 Aluminium chloride
Indium(III) chloride
Thallium(III) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

As a Lewis acid, GaCl3 is milder than aluminium trichloride. Gallium(III) is easier to reduce than Al(III), so the chemistry of reduced gallium compounds is more extensive than for aluminium. Ga2Cl4 is known whereas the corresponding Al2Cl4 is not. The coordination chemistry of Ga(III) and Fe(III) are similar, and gallium(III) compounds have been used as diamagnetic analogues of ferric compounds.

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