Chemical Properties
Colorless liquid. decomposes in water. Insoluble in concentrated
hydrochloric acid; soluble in carbon disulfide, chloroform,
benzene, alcohol, and ether.
Uses
Germanium(IV) chloride is used in the microwave preparation of Ge2Cl6, a colorless crystalline material which was included in a further study of low-valent germanium compounds.1
Germanium(IV) chloride is used in the preparation of many germanium compounds.
Uses
It is used as a catalyst in the conversion of carbohydrates into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in ionic liquids, as a reducing agent in combination with triphenylphosphine (TPP) for the reduction of alpha-bromo carboxylic acid derivatives, and in the production of pure germanium. It also finds use as an intermediate for several optical processes. It is one of the most important dopants in silica glass for optical fibers. It is employed in the preparation of germanium dioxide which is used for wide camera lens, microscopy, IR-transparent glasses/windows/lenses, and for the core of fiber-optic lines.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Purification Methods
Traces of Cl2 and HCl can be removed from the liquid by blowing dry air through it for a few hours at room temperature or by shaking it with Hg or Hg2Cl2 and then fractionating it in a vacuum. It decomposes on heating at 950o. It has a sharp penetrating odour and fumes in moist air to give a chalky coat of GeO2. It is slowly hydrolysed by H2O to give GeO2, but distils from conc HCl. [Foster et al. Inorg Synth II 109 1946, Dennis & Hance J Am Chem Soc 44 304 1922, Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 715 1963.] LACHRYMATORY. Glass powder (100-300 mesh). Washed with 10% HNO3, water and dry in air.
