GERMANIUM(IV) CHLORIDE

Chemical properties

Colorless liquid. decomposes in water. Insoluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid; soluble in carbon disulfide, chloroform, benzene, alcohol, and ether.

Physical properties

Colorless liquid; density 1.879 g/cm³ at 20°C and 1.844 g/cm³ at 30°C; refractive index 1.464; boils at 86.5°C; solidifies at -49.5°C; decomposes in water; soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride; insoluble in concentrated hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.

The Uses of GERMANIUM(IV) CHLORIDE

Germanium(IV) chloride is used in the microwave preparation of Ge2Cl6, a colorless crystalline material which was included in a further study of low-valent germanium compounds.1
Germanium(IV) chloride is used in the preparation of many germanium compounds.

The Uses of GERMANIUM(IV) CHLORIDE

It is used as a catalyst in the conversion of carbohydrates into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in ionic liquids, as a reducing agent in combination with triphenylphosphine (TPP) for the reduction of alpha-bromo carboxylic acid derivatives, and in the production of pure germanium. It also finds use as an intermediate for several optical processes. It is one of the most important dopants in silica glass for optical fibers. It is employed in the preparation of germanium dioxide which is used for wide camera lens, microscopy, IR-transparent glasses/windows/lenses, and for the core of fiber-optic lines.

What are the applications of Application

Germanium(IV) chloride is a precursor to Ge2-Cl6

Hazard

Toxic material

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Safety Profile

Poison by intravenous route. Mddly toxic by inhalation. A skin, severe eye, and mucous membrane irritant. Will react violently with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cl-. See also GERMANIUM COMPOUNDS.

Purification Methods

Traces of Cl2 and HCl can be removed from the liquid by blowing dry air through it for a few hours at room temperature or by shaking it with Hg or Hg2Cl2 and then fractionating it in a vacuum. It decomposes on heating at 950o. It has a sharp penetrating odour and fumes in moist air to give a chalky coat of GeO2. It is slowly hydrolysed by H2O to give GeO2, but distils from conc HCl. [Foster et al. Inorg Synth II 109 1946, Dennis & Hance J Am Chem Soc 44 304 1922, Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 715 1963.] LACHRYMATORY. Glass powder (100-300 mesh). Washed with 10% HNO3, water and dry in air.