Bismuth trichloride Chemical Properties

Melting point:

230-232 °C(lit.)

Boiling point:

447 °C(lit.)

Density 

4.75

Flash point:

430°C

storage temp. 

no restrictions.

solubility 

Soluble in hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate and acetone. Insoluble in alcohol.

form 

powder

color 

White to beige or gray

Specific Gravity

4.75

Odor

Hydrochloric acid odor

Water Solubility 

decomposes

Sensitive 

Hygroscopic

Sublimation 

430 ºC

Merck 

14,1262

Stability:

Stable, but reacts with water, moisture.

InChIKey

JHXKRIRFYBPWGE-UHFFFAOYSA-K

CAS DataBase Reference

7787-60-2(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Bismuth trichloride(7787-60-2)

EPA Substance Registry System

Bismuthine, trichloro- (7787-60-2)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/38-36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-36-37/39

RIDADR 

3260

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

EB2690000

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

2827 39 85

HazardClass 

8

PackingGroup 

III

Toxicity

LD50 orally in Rabbit: 3334 mg/kg

MSDS

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Bismuth trichloride Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

Bismuth trichloride is white crystal and crystalline powder

Physical properties

Yellowish-white crystalline solid; cubic crystals; hygroscopic; density 4.75g/cm³; melts at 230°C; vaporizes at 447°C; vapor pressure 5 torr at 242°C; reacts with water; soluble in acids, alcohol and acetone.

Uses

Bismuth chloride (Bi³⁺ + 3Cl^1- → BiCl3) reacts with water to produce what is known as “bismuth white” pigment.

Uses

In the manufacture of other bismuth salts; as catalyst for organic reactions.

Uses

Bismuth trichloride used as catalyst for organic reactions.

Definition

Bismuth trichloride is a white deliquescent solid. It can be prepared by direct combination of bismuth and chlorine. Bismuth(III) chloride dissolves in excess dilute hydrochloric acid to form a clear liquid, but if diluted it produces a white precipitate of bismuth(III) chloride oxide (bismuthyl chloride, BiOCl): BiCl₃ + H₂O = BiOCl + 2HCl This reaction is often used as an exam ple of a reversible reaction and as a confirmatory test for bismuth during quantitative analysis. Bismuth(V) chloride does not form.

Preparation

Bismuth chloride may be synthesized directly by passing chlorine over bismuth. Alternatively, the chloride salt may be prepared by adding hydrochloric acid to basic bismuth chloride and evaporating the solution:
Bi(OH)₂Cl + 2HCl → BiCl₃ + 2H₂O
Also, the compound can be prepared by dissolving bismuth in concentrated nitric acid and then adding solid sodium chloride into this solution. Another method of preparation is treating the metal with concentrated hydrochloric acid:
2Bi + 6HCl → 2BiCl₃ + 3H₂.

General Description

Bismuth(III) chloride is an inorganic salt that can be prepared by the reaction of bismuth with chlorine.

Purification Methods

Sublime the trichloride under high vacuum, or dry it under a current of HCl gas, followed by fractional distillation, once under HCl and once under argon. It is deliquescent. [Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 621 1963.]

Bismuth trichloride (7787-60-2)Related Product Information

• Chromium(III) chloride
• Calcium chloride
• Barium chloride
• Methyl trioctyl ammonium chloride
• BISMUTH(III) FLUORIDE
• Zinc chloride
• BISMUTH(III) BROMIDE
• Aluminum chlorohydrate
• Tributyltin chloride
• Boron trichloride
• Ruthenium(III) chloride
• Lithium chloride
• Ammonium chloride
• Magnesium chloride
• Sodium chloride
• Trichlorine nitride
• Antimony trichloride
• 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride