THALLIUM(I) CHLORIDE

Chemical Properties

White, crystalline powder; becomes violet on exposure to light. Slightly soluble in water; insoluble in alcohol, ammonium hydroxide.

Uses

Catalyst (chlorination), suntan lamp monitors.

Uses

It is used as a catalyst in chlorination's and in suntan lamps. The low solubility of TlCl is exploited in chemical synthesis: treatment of metal chloride complexes with TlPF6, gives the corresponding metal hexafluorophosphate derivative. It is used as a tracer in medical imaging.

Uses

Used to prepare cage, dinuclear complexes (TI-cyclodiphosphazanes) which possess interesting metal-metal interactions.

Definition

ChEBI: Thallium monochloride is a thallium molecular entity and an inorganic chloride.

Preparation

Thallium chloride may be prepared by heating the metal with chlorine.

General Description

White, crystalline powder, becomes violet on exposure to light. Used as a catalyst in chlorinations and in suntan lamps.

Reactivity Profile

Fluorine and THALLIUM(I) CHLORIDE react violently, melting the product [Mellor Supp. 1:63 1956]. When heated to decomposition, THALLIUM(I) CHLORIDE emits very toxic fumes of chloride and thallium. Thallium(I) chloride is vigorously attacked by cold fluorine. A mixture of potassium and THALLIUM(I) CHLORIDE produces a weak explosion on impact [EPA, 1998].

Hazard

Thallium chloride is highly toxic. Acute toxic effects are those of thallium poisoning.

Health Hazard

(Non-Specific -- Thallium Salts) Poisonous if swallowed. Inhalation of dust is poisonous.

Fire Hazard

(Non-Specific -- Thallium Salts) Fire may produce irritating or poisonous gases. When heated to decomposition, THALLIUM(I) CHLORIDE emits very toxic fumes of chloride and thallium. Thallium(I) chloride is vigorously attacked by cold fluorine. A mixture of potassium and THALLIUM(I) CHLORIDE produces a weak explosion on impact.

reaction suitability

reagent type: catalyst
core: thallium

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. An experimental teratogen. Mutation data reported. Incompatible with F2. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of Cland T1. See also THALLIUM COMPOUNDS and CHLORIDES.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from 1% HCl and wash it until acid-free, or crystallise it from hot water (50mL/g), then dry it at 140o and store it in brown bottles. Also purify it by subliming it in a vacuum, followed by treatment with dry HCl gas and filtering while molten. (It is soluble in 260 parts of cold water and 70 parts of boiling water). POISONOUS.