Uranium trichloride

Uranium(III) chloride

Names
IUPAC name Uranium(III) chloride
Other names Uranium chloride Uranium trichloride Hypouranous chloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	10025-93-1 N
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	146484 Y
PubChem CID	167444
UNII	1SW3X68G1K N
InChI InChI=1S/3ClH.U/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Y Key: SAWLVFKYPSYVBL-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y InChI=1/3ClH.U/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: SAWLVFKYPSYVBL-DFZHHIFOAG
SMILES Cl[U](Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	Cl3U
Molar mass	344.38 g·mol−1
Appearance	Green crystalline solid
Density	5.500 g/cm3, liquid
Melting point	837 °C (1,539 °F; 1,110 K)
Boiling point	1,657 °C (3,015 °F; 1,930 K)
Solubility in water	Soluble
Structure
Hybridisation	Tricapped trigonal prismatic
Hazards
Flash point	Non-flammable
Autoignition temperature	Non-flammable
Related compounds
Related compounds	Uranium(IV) chloride, Uranium(V) chloride, Uranium(VI) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Uranium(III) chloride, UCl₃, is a chemical compound that contains the earth metal uranium and chlorine. UCl₃ is used mostly to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. Uranium(III) chloride is synthesized in various ways from uranium(IV) chloride; however, UCl₃ is less stable than UCl₄.

There are two ways to synthesize uranium(III) chloride. The following processes describe how to produce uranium(III) chloride.

(1) In a mixture of NaCl-KCl at 670–710 °C, add uranium tetrachloride with uranium metal.

(2) Heat uranium(IV) chloride in hydrogen gas.

In solid uranium(III) chloride each uranium atom has nine chlorine atoms as near neighbours, at approximately the same distance, in a tricapped trigonal prismatic configuration.

Uranium(III) chloride is a green crystalline solid at room temperature. UCl₃ melts at 837 °C and boils at 1657 °C. Uranium(III) chloride has a density of 5500 kg/m³ or 5.500 g/cm³.

Its composition by weight:

Its formal oxidative states:

Uranium(III) chloride is very soluble in water and is also very hygroscopic. UCl₃ is more stable in a solution of hydrochloric acid.

Uranium(III) chloride is used in reactions with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and sodium methylcyclopentadiene to prepare various uranium metallocene complexes.

Uranium(III) chloride is used as a catalyst during reactions between lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH₄) and olefins to produce alkyl aluminate compounds.

The molten form of uranium(III) chloride is a typical compound in pyrochemical processes as it is important in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels. UCl₃ is usually the form that uranium takes as spent fuel in electrorefining processes.

There are three hydrates of uranium(III) chloride:

Each are synthesized by the reduction of uranium(IV) chloride in methylcyanide (acetonitrile), with specific amounts of water and propionic acid.