Uranyl chloride
| Names | |
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IUPAC name
Dichlorodioxouranium
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| Other names
Uranium(VI), dichlorodioxy
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| Identifiers | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.029.315 |
| Properties | |
| UO2Cl2 | |
| Molar mass | 340.90 |
| Melting point | Decomposes |
| Boiling point | Decomposes |
| Solubility in other solvents | 320 @ 18C |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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| Infobox references | |
Uranyl chloride, UO2Cl2 is an unstable, bright yellow coloured chemical compound of uranium. It forms large sand-like crystals which are highly soluble in water, alcohols, and ethers. Uranyl chloride and its two hydrates, UO2Cl2·H2O and UO2Cl2·3H2O, decompose in the presence of light, a fact discovered by Adolph Gehlen in 1804. This photosensitivity periodically attracted scientific curiosity and various unsuccessful attempts to develop photographic applications using the salts. As with most other uranic species this compound also exhibits fluorescence.
Uranyl chloride forms when chlorine gas is passed over uranium dioxide at a red heat. However it is more usually obtained by dissolving uranium oxide in hydrochloric acid and evaporating.
The company Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) has developed a process to extract uranium from the Western and Eastern coastal dune sands of India. After pre-processing with high-intensity magnetic separators and fine grinding, the mineral sands (known as monazite), are digested with caustic soda at about 120C and water. The hydroxide concentrate is further digested with concentrated hydrochloric acid to solubilise all hydroxides to form a feed solution composed of chlorides of uranium and other rare earth elements including thorium. The solution is subjected to liquid–liquid extraction with dual solvent systems to produce uranyl chloride and thorium oxalate. The crude uranyl chloride solution is subsequently refined to nuclear grade ammonium diuranate by a purification process involving precipitation and solvent extraction in a nitrate media.
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