Scandium chloride

Scandium(III) chloride

Crystals of scandium(III) chloride hexahydrate
Names
IUPAC name Scandium(III) chloride
Other names scandium chloride scandium trichloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	10361-84-9
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	74528 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.030.714
PubChem	82586
RTECS number	VQ8925000
UNII	53PH22NTYW Y
InChI InChI=1S/3ClH.Sc/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Y Key: DVMZCYSFPFUKKE-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y InChI=1/3ClH.Sc/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: DVMZCYSFPFUKKE-DFZHHIFOAN InChI=1S/3ClH.Sc/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: DVMZCYSFPFUKKE-UHFFFAOYSA-K
SMILES Cl[Sc](Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	ScCl3
Molar mass	151.31 g/mol
Appearance	grayish-white crystals
Density	2.39 g/mL, solid
Melting point	960 °C (1,760 °F; 1,230 K) 63 °C (hexahydrate)
Solubility in water	soluble
Solubility in other solvents	insoluble in EtOH
Hazards
Main hazards	irritant
Safety data sheet	External MSDS
NFPA 704	0 1
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)	3980 mg/kg (mouse, oral)
Related compounds
Related compounds	scandium(III) fluoride scandium(III) nitrate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Scandium(III) chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula ScCl₃. It is a white, high-melting ionic compound, which is deliquescent and highly water-soluble. Scandium(III) chloride is mainly of interest in the research laboratory. Both the anhydrous form and hexahydrate (ScCl₃•6H₂O) are commercially available.

ScCl₃ crystallises in the layered BiI₃ motif, which features octahedral scandium centres. Monomeric ScCl₃ is the predominant species in the vapour phase at 900 K, the dimer Sc₂Cl₆ accounts for approximately 8%. The electron diffraction spectrum indicates that the monomer is planar and the dimer has two bridging Cl atoms each Sc being 4 coordinate.

ScCl₃ dissolves in water to give [Sc(H₂O)₆]³⁺ ions. In fact, samples of ScCl₃ converts to this hexahydrate upon exposure to air. The structure of the hexahydrate is trans-[ScCl₂(H₂O)₄]Cl·2H₂O. With the less basic ligand tetrahydrofuran, ScCl₃ yields the adduct ScCl₃(THF)₃ as white crystals. This THF-soluble complex is used in the synthesis of organoscandium compounds. ScCl₃ has been converted to its dodecyl sulfate salt, which has been investigated as a "Lewis acid-surfactant combined catalyst" (LASC) in aldol-like reactions.

Scandium(III) chloride was used by Fischer et al. who first prepared metallic scandium by electrolysis of a eutectic melt of scandium(III) chloride and other salts at 700-800 °C.

ScCl₃ reacts with scandium metal to give a number of chlorides where scandium has an oxidation state <+3, ScCl, Sc₇Cl₁₀, Sc₂Cl₃, Sc₅Cl₈ and Sc₇Cl₁₂. For example, reduction of ScCl₃ with scandium metal in the presence of caesium chloride gives the compound CsScCl₃ which contain linear chains of composition Sc^IICl₃⁻, containing Sc^IICl₆ octahedra sharing faces.