Formula GeCl2 Boiling point 450 °C | Molar mass 143.546 g/mol Appearance white-pale yellow solid | |
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Germanium dichloride is a chemical compound of germanium and chlorine with the formula GeCl2. It is a solid and contains germanium in the +2 oxidation state.
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Preparation
Solid GeCl2 can be produced by passing germanium tetrachloride, GeCl4, over Ge metal at 650 °C.
GeCl4 + Ge → 2GeCl2It is also formed from the decomposition of chlorogermane, GeH3Cl, at 70 °C.
2 GeH3Cl → GeCl2 + GeH4 + H2Reactions
GeCl2 is hydrolysed to give yellow germanium(II) hydroxide, which on warming gives brown germanium monoxide:
GeCl2 + 2H2O → Ge(OH)2 + 2HCl Ge(OH)2 → GeO + H2OSolutions of GeCl2 in HCl are strongly reducing. With chloride ion, ionic compounds containing the pyramidal GeCl3− ion have been characterised, for example With rubidium and caesium chloride compounds, e.g.RbGeCl3 are produced; these have distorted perovskite structures.
Molecular GeCl2, dichlorogermylene
Molecular GeCl2 is often called dichlorogermylene, highlighting its resemblance to a carbene. The structure of gas-phase molecular GeCl2 shows that it is a bent molecule, as predicted by VSEPR theory. The dioxane complex, GeCl2.dioxane, has been used as a source of molecular GeCl2 for reaction syntheses, as has the in situ reaction of GeCl4 and Ge metal. GeCl2 is quite reactive and inserts into many different types of chemical bonds.