Description

Gold Chloride – AuCl3

Gold(III) chloride, traditionally called auric chloride, is a compound of gold and chlorine with the molecular formula Au₂Cl₆. The “III” in the name indicates that the gold has an oxidation state of +3, typical for many gold compounds. Gold(III) chloride is hygroscopic and decomposes in visible light. This compound is a dimer of AuCl₃. This compound has few uses, although it catalyzes various organic reactions.

Structure

AuCl₃ exists as a chloride-bridged dimer both as a solid and vapour, at least at low temperatures.^[2] Gold(III) bromide behaves analogously.^[1] The structure is similar to that of iodine(III) chloride.

Each gold center is square planar in gold(III) chloride,^[1] which is typical of a metal complex with a d⁸ electron count. The bonding in AuCl₃ is considered somewhat covalent.

Preparation[edit]

Gold(III) chloride is most often prepared by passing chlorine gas over gold powder at 180 °C (356 °F):^[1]

2 Au + 3 Cl₂ → Au₂Cl₆

The chlorination reaction can be conducted in the presence of tetrabutylammonium chloride, the product being the lipophilic salt tetrabutylammonium tetrachloraurate.^[5]

Another method of preparation is via chloroauric acid, which is obtained by first dissolving the gold powder in aqua regia to give chloroauric acid:^[6]

Au + HNO₃ + 4 HCl → H[AuCl₄] + 2 H₂O + NO

The resulting chloroauric acid is subsequently heated to give Au₂Cl₆:

2 H[AuCl₄] → Au₂Cl₆ + 2 HCl

Sihauli Chemicals is one of the Leading & Top Provider of Gold Chloride – AuCl3 Manufacturers | Suppliers | Exporters | in Vasai Mumbai India for Laboratory Testing.
Usage – Laboratory
Physical State – Powder
Grade Standard – Reagent Grade, Analytical Grade
Packaging Size – 500GM, 1 KG, 2.5KG, 5KG, 25KG
Packaging Type – Plastic bottle / Drum
We are suppliers of Chloroauric Acid.
Assay min. 49% Au Maximum Limits of Impurities:Matter insoluble diethyl ether 0.1%Alkalies and other metals(as sulphate) 0.2ÊS No. 16903-35-8 Un No. 8/3260 TARIFF: 2843 30 00R : 34-43 S : 26-36/37/38-45 F : 3-8-20

Applications-:

Gold(III) chloride is used in producing gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles can be formed by the reaction of gold(III) chloride and sodium tetrafluoroborate and then coating with didodecyldimethylammonium bromide. Then washing with 1-dodecanethiol and ethanol proved to be the most effective method for forming nanoparticles. However, other methods work such as replacing the 1-dodecanethiol with dioctyl sulfide.^[17] The gold(III) chloride is the source of gold in this production.