Curium(III) chloride

Curium(III) chloride

Crystal structure
Identifiers
CAS Number	13537-20-7
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
PubChem CID	57418588
InChI InChI=1S/3ClH.Cm/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: PTLGMSBPLOHNBD-UHFFFAOYSA-K
SMILES Cl[Cm](Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	Cl3Cm
Molar mass	353 g·mol−1
Appearance	White solid (anhydrous) Light green solid (hydrate)
Melting point	694–670 °C (1,281–1,238 °F; 967–943 K){693 - 699{ [1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

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Curium(III) chloride or Curium Trichloride is a actinide chemical compound with the chemical formula CmCl₃. It is also a salt of the actinide Curium (Cm). It is also radioactive, due to the radioactivity of Curium. Inhaling or ingesting can have fatal consequences.

Structure

Curium(III) chloride has a 9 coordinate tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry. ^[2]

Synthesis

Curium(III) chloride can be obtained from the reaction of hydrogen chloride gas with curium dioxide, curium(III) oxide, or curium(III) oxychloride at a temperature of 400-600 °C:

CmOCl + 2HCl → CmCl₃ + H₂O

It can also be obtained from the dissolution of metallic Curium in dilute hydrochloric acid: ^[3]

2Cm + 6HCl → 2CmCl₃ + 3H₂ in H₂O

This method is complicated by the ongoing processes of hydrolysis and hydration of the resulting compound in an aqueous solution, making it problematic to obtain a pure product.

It can be obtained from the reaction of curium nitride with cadmium chloride: ^[4]

2 CmN + 3 CdCl₂ → 2 CmCl₃ + Cd₃N₂

Danger to the human body

Ingesting Curium can have fatal effects. primarily due to its radioactivity, it can cause radiation poisoning due to being a potent alpha emitter. Inhaling can also be dangerous due to its potential to cause lung cancer. ^[5]

References

1. "Springer link". Springer link. Retrieved 27/2/2026.{{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
2. Greenwood, N. N.; Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth, UK. p. 1270.
3. Wallmann, J. C.; Fuger, J.; Peterson, J. R.; Green, J. L. (1 November 1967). "Crystal structure and lattice parameters of curium trichloride" . Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry . 29 (11): 2745–2751. doi:10.1016/0022-1902(67)80013-7. ISSN   0022-1902. S2CID   97334114 . Retrieved 3 July 2023.
4. Hayashi, Hirokazu; Takano, Masahide; Otobe, Haruyoshi; Koyama, Tadafumi (July 2013). "Syntheses and thermal analyses of curium trichloride". Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. 297 (1): 139–144. Bibcode:2013JRNC..297..139H. doi:10.1007/s10967-012-2413-7. S2CID   95792512.
5. "Medical effects of internal contamination with actinides: further controversy on depleted uranium and radioactive warfare". PubMed Central. Retrieved 27/2/2026.{{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)