General Description
A dark violet crystalline solid. Denser than water. Contact may burn skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. Used to make other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
Acidic salts, such as TITANIUM TRICHLORIDE, are generally soluble in water. The resulting solutions contain moderate concentrations of hydrogen ions and have pH's of less than 7.0. They react as acids to neutralize bases. These neutralizations generate heat, but less or far less than is generated by neutralization of inorganic acids, inorganic oxoacids, and carboxylic acid. They usually do not react as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents but such behavior is not impossible. Many of these compounds catalyze organic reactions. Ethylene can polymerize at low pressure if catalyzed by titanium halides. (Sundaram, K. M, M. M. Shreehan, E. F. Olszewski. thylene. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2001.)
Air & Water Reactions
Pyrophoric, very reactive with water and moisture in air produces hydrochloric acid, [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. Ignites spontaneously on contact with air; decomposed by water and water vapor forming HCl. [Handling Chemcials Safely 1980. p. 905].
Health Hazard
Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Inhalation of decomposition products may cause severe injury or death. Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
Flammable/combustible material. May ignite on contact with moist air or moisture. May burn rapidly with flare-burning effect. Some react vigorously or explosively on contact with water. Some may decompose explosively when heated or involved in a fire. May re-ignite after fire is extinguished. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated.
Chemical Properties
purple crystalline solid
Physical properties
Red-violet hexagonal crystals; hygroscopic; density 2.64 g/cm3; decomposes on heating above 425°C; also decomposes in water, evolving heat; soluble in alcohol, acetonitrile and certain amines; insoluble in hydrocarbons and ether.
Hazard
Fire risk in the presence of oxidizing materials.
Irritant to skin and tissue; open container only
in oxygen-free or inert atmosphere.
Flammability and Explosibility
Pyrophoric
Purification Methods
It is a brown purple powder that is very reactive to H2O and pyrophoric when dry. It should be manipulated in a dry box. It is soluble in CH2Cl2 and tetrahydrofuran, and is used as a M solution in these solvents in the ratio of 2:1, and stored under N2. It is a powerful reducing agent. [Ingraham et al. Inorg Synth VI 52 1960.]