Plutonyl chloride

Plutonyl chloride

Names
Other names Plutonium(VI) chloride oxide Plutonium dichloride dioxide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image hexahydrate: Interactive image
InChI InChI=1S/2ClH.2O.Pu/h2*1H;;;/q;;;;+2/p-2 Key: FBPQBFGMDMYLDF-UHFFFAOYSA-L hexahydrate:InChI=1S/2ClH.6H2O.2O.Pu/h2*1H;6*1H2;;;/q;;;;;;;;;;+2/p-2 Key: GLHHUAGFMJUIQX-UHFFFAOYSA-L
SMILES O=[Pu](Cl)(Cl)=O hexahydrate:O.O.O.O.O.O.O=[Pu](Cl)(Cl)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	PuO2Cl2
Molar mass	347 g·mol−1
Solubility in water	soluble
Related compounds
Other anions	Plutonyl fluoride
Other cations	Neptunyl chloride Uranyl chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Plutonyl chloride is an compound of plutonium, oxygen, and chlorine with the chemical formula PuO₂Cl₂. It is an inorganic compound featuring one plutonium atom in the +6 oxidation state, along with two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms. It was initially isolated by Alenchikova et al. in 1959. ^[1]

Synthesis

The plutonyl chloride solution can be prepared by oxidizing tetravalent plutonium chloride with chlorine. The plutonyl chloride is then isolated by evaporation of the solution in vacuum at room temperature. ^[2]

Physical properties

Plutonyl chloride is soluble in water. ^[3] It is known as the hexahydrate PuO₂Cl₂·6H₂O, an unstable solid which decomposes to a plutonium(IV) compound over time ^[4] via alpha radiation from the plutonium. ^[5]

Uses

Plutonyl chloride and its complexes are important in the context of nuclear fuel reprocessing. ^[6]

References

1. Plutonium: A Bibliography of Selected Report Literature. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Technical Information. 1961. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
2. Scientific Information Report. United States Central Intelligence Agency. 1959. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
3. The Reactor Handbook: Engineering. Technical Information Service, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. 1955. p. 621. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
4. Morss, L. R.; Edelstein, Norman M.; Fuger, Jean (31 December 2007). The Chemistry of the Actinide and Transactinide Elements (3rd ed., Volumes 1-5). Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN   978-1-4020-3598-2 . Retrieved 2 October 2025.
5. Hodge, Harold C.; Stannard, J. N.; Hursh, J. B. (29 June 2013). Uranium · Plutonium Transplutonic Elements. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 328. ISBN   978-3-642-65551-7 . Retrieved 2 October 2025.
6. Berthon, Claude; Boubals, Nathalie; Charushnikova, Iraida A.; Collison, David; Cornet, Stéphanie M.; Den Auwer, Christophe; Gaunt, Andrew J.; Kaltsoyannis, Nikolas; May, Iain; Petit, Sebastien; Redmond, Michael P.; Reilly, Sean D.; Scott, Brian L. (18 October 2010). "The Reaction Chemistry of Plutonyl(VI) Chloride Complexes with Triphenyl Phosphineoxide and Triphenyl Phosphinimine" . Inorganic Chemistry . 49 (20): 9554–9562. doi:10.1021/ic101251a. ISSN   0020-1669. PMID   20839846 . Retrieved 2 October 2025.