Sulfur tetrachloride

Sulfur tetrachloride

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Names
IUPAC name Sulfur(IV) chloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	13451-08-6
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
InChI InChI=1/Cl4S/c1-5(2,3)4
SMILES ClS(Cl)(Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	SCl4
Molar mass	173.87
Appearance	White powder
Melting point	−31 °C (−24 °F; 242 K)
Boiling point	−20 °C (−4 °F; 253 K) (decomposes)
Solubility in water	soluble in water
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Sulfur tetrachloride is an inorganic compound with chemical formula SCl₄. It is an unstable pale yellow solid, decomposing to sulfur dichloride and chlorine at temperatures above 242 K. It is obtained by treating sulfur dichloride with chlorine at 193 K:

Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \rm SCl_2 + Cl_2 \xrightarrow{193~K} SCl_4

Its solid structure is uncertain. It is probably the salt SCl₃⁺Cl⁻, since related salts are known.

Characteristics

Sulfur tetrachloride is stable in solid state below −30 °C and decomposes to chlorine and sulfur when temperature rises. In solid state, there is a white, finely powdered substance. It melts with simultaneous decomposition above −20 °C. Sulfur tetrachloride reacts with water, producing hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide through the hydrolysis process.

Gas-phase SCl₄ has a seesaw molecular geometry as evidenced from microwave spectroscopy and electron diffraction. The liquid has a fluxional trigonal bipyramidal geometry with rapid exchange of the axial and equatorial fluorine atoms on the NMR timescale at room temperature. For the solid state a structure has been reported consisting of a SCl₄ seesaw geometry linked in a three-dimensional network by weak S–F interactions, two per molecule.

Reactions

• Decomposition:

Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{SCl_4\ \xrightarrow{-15~^\circ C}\ SCl_2 + Cl_2 }

• Reacting with water in air:

Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{SCl_4 + H_2O \ \xrightarrow{}\ SOCl_2 + 2HCl }

• Treated with water:

Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{SCl_4 + 2H_2O \ \xrightarrow{}\ SO_2 + 4HCl }

• Oxidized by nitric acid:

Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{SCl_4 + 2HNO_3 + 2H_2O \ \xrightarrow{}\ H_2SO_4 + 2NO_2\uparrow + 4HCl }

• Reacting with sodium hydroxide:

Failed to parse (Missing <code>texvc</code> executable. Please see math/README to configure.): \mathrm{SCl_4 + 6NaOH \ \xrightarrow{}\ Na_2SO_3 + 4NaCl + 3H_2O }