| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name cobalt(III) oxide, dicobalt trioxide | |
| Other names cobaltic oxide, cobalt sesquioxide | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.013.779 | 
| EC Number | 
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|  PubChem CID | |
| RTECS number | 
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|  CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| 
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| 
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| Properties | |
| Co2O3 | |
| Molar mass | 165.8646 g/mol | 
| Appearance | red powder | 
| Density | 5.18 g/cm3 [2] | 
| Melting point | 895 [3] °C (1,643 °F; 1,168 K) | 
| negligible | |
| +4560.0·10−6 cm3/mol | |
| Structure | |
| Corundum, hR30 | |
| R3c, No. 167 | |
| Thermochemistry | |
|  Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | −577 kJ/mol | 
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
| Main hazards | toxic | 
| GHS labelling: | |
|     | |
| Warning | |
| H302, H317, H351, H410 | |
| P280 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Cobalt(III) oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula of Co2O3. Although only two oxides of cobalt are well characterized, CoO and Co3O4, [4] procedures claiming to give Co2O3 have been described. Thus treatment of Co(II) salts such as cobalt(II) sulfate with an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite (also known as bleach) gives a black solid: [5] [6]
Some formulations of the catalyst hopcalite contain "Co2O3".
Some studies have been unable to synthesize the compound, and report that it is theoretically unstable. [7]
It is soluble in cold diluted sulfuric acid and produces Co2[SO4]3, which is blue in aqueous solution.
Cobalt(III) ion is a strong oxidizer in acidic solution, its standard electrode potential is +1.84V in this situation. [8]