Selenium oxydichloride is the

inorganic compound In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...

with the formula SeOCl₂. It is a colorless liquid. With a high dielectric constant (55) and high specific conductance, it is an attractive solvent. Structurally, it is a close chemical relative of

thionyl chloride Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a moderately volatile, colourless liquid with an unpleasant acrid odour. Thionyl chloride is primarily used as a chlorinating reagent, with approximately per year bein ...

SOCl₂, being a pyramidal molecule.

Preparation and reactions

Selenium oxydichloride can be prepared by several methods, and a common one involves the conversion of

selenium dioxide Selenium dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula SeO2. This colorless solid is one of the most frequently encountered compounds of selenium. Properties Solid SeO2 is a one-dimensional polymer, the chain consisting of alternating seleniu ...

to dichloroselenious acid followed by dehydration: :SeO₂ + 2 HCl → Se(OH)₂Cl₂ :Se(OH)₂Cl₂ → SeOCl₂ + H₂O The original synthesis involved the

redistribution reaction In chemistry, redistribution usually refers to the exchange of anionic ligands bonded to metal and metalloid centers. The conversion does not involve redox, in contrast to disproportionation reactions. Some useful redistribution reactions are condu ...

of selenium dioxide and

selenium tetrachloride Selenium tetrachloride is the inorganic compound composed with the formula SeCl4. This compound exists as yellow to white volatile solid. It is one of two commonly available selenium chlorides, the other example being selenium monochloride, S ...

. The compound hydrolyzes readily to form

hydrogen chloride The compound hydrogen chloride has the chemical formula and as such is a hydrogen halide. At room temperature, it is a colourless gas, which forms white fumes of hydrochloric acid upon contact with atmospheric water vapor. Hydrogen chloride ga ...

and

References

Selenium(IV) compounds Oxychlorides Inorganic solvents {{inorganic-compound-stub

Preparation and reactions

See also

References