colorless hygroscopic; -8 mesh with 99.5% purity; can be prepared by reacting Th with Br2; light sensitive and easily hydrolyzed [KIR83] [CER91] [CRC10]
Thorium (IV) bromide is deliquescent in moist air, readily soluble in water and alcohol. Soluble in ethylenediamine.
The preparation of the bromides in a Br2-saturated nitrogen stream requires high temperatures if practical reaction rates are to be achieved. The oxide-carbon mixture must usually be heated to about 1100℃; this temperature is easily attained with a gas-air blast burner provided the quartz reactor is embedded in porous, refractory gravel ("Diatomite" gravel).
