Chromium trioxide

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Chromium trioxide
Ball-and-stick model of chromium trioxide
Powder of chromium trioxide
Names
IUPAC name
Chromium trioxide
Other names
Chromic anhydride, Chromium(VI) oxide, Chromic acid (misnomer)
Identifiers
1333-82-0 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:48240 YesY
ChemSpider 14212 YesY
Jmol 3D model Interactive image
PubChem 14915
RTECS number GB6650000
UNII 8LV49809UC YesY
UN number 1463
  • InChI=1S/Cr.3O YesY
    Key: WGLPBDUCMAPZCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N YesY
  • InChI=1/Cr.3O/rCrO3/c2-1(3)4
    Key: WGLPBDUCMAPZCE-YFSAMUSXAF
  • O=[Cr](=O)=O
Properties
CrO3
Molar mass 99.99 g·mol−1
Appearance Dark red granular solid, deliquescent
Odor Odorless
Density 2.7 g/cm3 (20 °C)[1]
Melting point 197 °C (387 °F; 470 K) [1]
Boiling point 250 °C (482 °F; 523 K)
decomposes[1]
164.8 g/100 mL (0 °C)
169 g/100 mL (25 °C)[1]
172.6 g/100 mL (40 °C)
198.1 g/100 mL (100 °C)[2]
Solubility Soluble in H2SO4, HNO3, (C2H5)2O, CH3COOH, acetone
4·10−5 cm3/mol[1]
Thermochemistry
73.2 J/mol·K[3]
−589.3 kJ/mol[4]
Vapor pressure {{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Chromium trioxide is an inorganic compound with the formula CrO3. It is the acidic anhydride of chromic acid, and is sometimes marketed under the same name.[5] This compound is a dark-purple solid under anhydrous conditions, bright orange when wet and which dissolves in water concomitant with hydrolysis. Millions of kilograms are produced annually, mainly for electroplating.[6] Chromium trioxide is a powerful oxidiser and a suspected carcinogen.

Production, structure, and basic reactions

Chromium trioxide is generated by treating sodium chromate or the corresponding sodium dichromate with sulfuric acid:[5]

H2SO4 + Na2Cr2O7 → 2 CrO3 + Na2SO4 + H2O

Approximately 100M kg are produced annually by this or similar routes.[6]

The solid consists of chains of tetrahedrally coordinated chromium atoms that share vertices. Each chromium center, therefore, shares two oxygen centers with neighbors. Two oxygen atoms are not shared, giving an overall stoichiometry of 1:3.[7][8]

Ball-and-stick model of chains in the crystal structure of CrO3

The structure of monomeric CrO3 has been calculated using density functional theory, and is predicted to be pyramidal (point group C3v) rather than planar (point group D3h).[9]

Ball-and-stick model of the DFT-calculated structure of the CrO3 monomer

Chromium trioxide decomposes above 197 °C liberating oxygen eventually giving Cr2O3:

4 CrO3 → 2 Cr2O3 + 3 O2

It is used in organic synthesis as an oxidant, often as a solution in acetic acid,[7] or acetone in the case of the Jones oxidation. In these oxidations, the Cr(VI) converts primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids and secondary alcohols to ketones. The reactions are given below:

  • Primary alcohols
4 CrO3 + 3 RCH2OH + 12 H+ → 3 RCOOH + 4 Cr3+ + 9 H2O
  • Secondary alcohols
2 CrO3 + 3 R2CHOH + 6 H+ → 3 R2C=O + 2 Cr3+ + 6 H2O

Applications

Chromium trioxide is mainly used in chrome plating. It is typically employed with additives that affect the plating process but do not react with the trioxide. The trioxide reacts with cadmium, zinc, and other metals to generate passivating chromate films that resist corrosion. It is also used in the production of synthetic rubies. Chromic acid solution is also used in applying types of anodic coating to aluminium, which are primarily used in aerospace applications. A Chromic Acid/ Phosphoric Acid solution is also the preferred stripping agent of anodic coatings of all types.

Safety

Chromium trioxide is highly toxic, corrosive, and carcinogenic.[10] It is the main example of hexavalent chromium, an environmental hazard. The related chromium(III) derivatives are not particularly dangerous; thus, reductants are used to destroy chromium(VI) samples.

Chromium trioxide, being a powerful oxidizer, will ignite organic materials such as alcohols on contact.

Images

References

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  3. chromium(VI) oxide
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External links