Iodine trichloride is an
interhalogen compound
In chemistry, an interhalogen compound is a molecule which contains two or more different halogen atoms ( fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or astatine) and no atoms of elements from any other group.
Most interhalogen compounds known are b ...
of
iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid at standard conditions that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , and boils to a vi ...
and
chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate betwee ...
. It is bright yellow but upon time and exposure to light it turns red due to the presence of elemental iodine. In the solid state is present as a planar
dimer
Dimer may refer to:
* Dimer (chemistry), a chemical structure formed from two similar sub-units
** Protein dimer, a protein quaternary structure
** d-dimer
* Dimer model, an item in statistical mechanics, based on ''domino tiling''
* Julius Dimer ...
I
2Cl
6, with two bridging Cl atoms.
It can be prepared by reacting iodine with an excess of liquid chlorine at −70 °C. In the molten state it is conductive, which may indicate dissociation:
:I
2Cl
6 +
Iodine trichloride can be created by heating a mixture of liquid iodine and chlorine gas to 105 °C.
It is an
oxidizing agent
An oxidizing agent (also known as an oxidant, oxidizer, electron recipient, or electron acceptor) is a substance in a redox chemical reaction that gains or "Electron acceptor, accepts"/"receives" an electron from a (called the , , or ). In ot ...
, capable of causing fire on contact with organic materials.
References
Iodine compounds
Chlorides
Interhalogen compounds
Oxidizing agents
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