Nomenclature
CAS number: 10026-11-6
Zirconium tetrachloride.
Cl
4Zr; mol wt 233.04.
Cl 60.85%, Zr 39.15%.
ZrCl
4.
Description and references
In large-scale prepns zirconium oxide is converted
to the carbide, which is chlorinated to yield the tetrachloride:
Kroll et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 94, 1 (1948). Lab prepn based on the equation ZrO2 + 2CCl4 → ZrCl4 + 2COCl2: Hummers et al., Inorg. Synth. 4, 121 (1953). Toxicology study: N. A. Zhilova, A.
A. Kasparov Hyg. Sanit. 31, 328 (1966). Review: Blumenthal, J. Chem. Educ. 39, 604-610 (1962).
Properties
Lustrous monoclinic crystals: Krebs, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 8, 146 (1969); idem, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 378, 263 (1970). Tetrahedral symmetry in gas phase with
the Zr-Cl distance of 2.33 . Lewis acid. Extremely hygroscopic,
forms HCl vapor and gives off fumes in moist air. d 2.803. Sublimes at 331°. mp 437° under its own pressure
which is about 25 atm at this temp. Decomposed by water to form
ZrOCl2 and HCl; sol in alcohol, ether. LD50 in mice, rats (mg/kg): 665, 1688 orally (Zhilova, Kasparov).Use
Friedel-Crafts catalyst. Component of Ziegler-type
catalysts in the condensation of ethylene. Starting material in the
synthesis of a number of organic derivs of zirconium, such as alkoxides
and zircocene. The alkoxides have been shown to be of value in the
curing of silicone plastic films. The alkoxyzirconium carboxylates
are said to be useful in the water-repellent treatment of textiles
and other fibrous materials.