Copper(I) chloride

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Copper(I) chloride
Copper(I) chloride SA by Ormarion.jpg
Sealed vial containing CuCl
Names
IUPAC name
Copper(I) chloride
Other names
Copper monochloride
Cuprous chloride
Properties
CuCl
Molar mass 98.999 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Density 4.14 g/cm3
Melting point 423 °C (793 °F; 696 K)
Boiling point 1,490 °C (2,710 °F; 1,760 K) (decomposes)
0.47 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Solubility Soluble in aq. ammonia, conc. HCl
Insoluble in acetone, ethanol
Vapor pressure ~0 mmHg
Hazards
Safety data sheet Sigma-Aldrich
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
140 mg/kg
Related compounds
Related compounds
Copper(II) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Copper(I) chloride, also called cuprous chloride, is an inorganic chemical compound, with the chemical formula CuCl. It is a white, almost insoluble salt which is slowly oxidized by air to Cu(II).

Properties

Chemical

CuCl is almost completely insoluble in water. It does however form complexes and dissolve in concentrated hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide (aq. ammonia), as well as in cyanide and thiosulfate solutions.

Physical

Pure samples of copper(I) chloride appear as white, dense, cubical crystals. As it is slowly oxidized in air, older samples may appear dirty green or brown.[1]

Preparation

Copper(I) chloride can be prepared by reduction of copper(II) ions in presence of chloride ions.

CuCl2 → CuCl + Cl-

Possible methods include bubbling sulfur dioxide through an aqueous solution of copper(II) chloride, or heating a solution of copper sulfate, sodium chloride and ascorbic acid.

CuCl2 + SO2 + 2 H2O → 2 CuCl + H2SO4 + 2 HCl
2 CuCl2 + C6H8O6 → 2 CuCl + 2HCl + C6H6O6

It can also be produced by boiling copper(II) chloride and copper metal in hydrochloric acid.

CuCl2 + Cu → 2 CuCl

Originally, CuCl was first made by reducing mercury(II) chloride with copper metal:[2]

HgCl2 + 2 Cu → 2 CuCl + Hg

Industrially it is made by direct combination of copper metal and chlorine at 450–900 °C:

2 Cu + Cl2 → 2 CuCl

Projects

Handling

Safety

Cuprous chloride is irritant and corrosive to eyes and skin. Protection clothing should be worn when handling it.

Storage

CuCl should be kept in sealed containers, away from oxygen. Schlenk flasks are a good storage container.

Disposal

CuCl can be oxidized with oxygen or hydrogen peroxide to the more soluble CuCl2, which can be reduced to metallic copper with a more reactive metal, such as iron or zinc.

Gallery

References

  1. Copper(I) chloride, Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper%28I%29_chloride)
  2. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A29017.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext

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