Iodine trichloride is an
interhalogen compound of
iodine
Iodine is a chemical element; it has symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists at standard conditions as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , and boils to a vi ...
and
chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical element; it has 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 between ...
. 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 I
2Cl
6, with two bridging Cl atoms.
It can be prepared by reacting iodine with an excess of liquid chlorine at −70 °C,
[ or heating a mixture of liquid iodine and chlorine gas to 105 °C. In the molten state it is conductive, which may indicate dissociation:]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 " accepts"/"receives" an electron from a (called the , , or ''electron donor''). In ot ...
, capable of causing fire on contact with organic materials. That oxidizing power also makes it a useful catalyst for organic chlorination reaction
In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction which introduces one or more halogens into a chemical compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, drugs ...
s.
Iodine trichloride reacts with concentrated hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid or spirits of salt, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl). It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungency, pungent smell. It is classified as a acid strength, strong acid. It is ...
, forming tetrachloroiodic acid:
References
Iodine compounds
Chlorides
Interhalogen compounds
Oxidizing agents
{{inorganic-compound-stub