Germanium dichloride

Germanium dichloride

Names
Preferred IUPAC name Germanium dichloride
Systematic IUPAC name Dichlorogermanylidene
Other names Dichlorogermylene Germanium(II) chloride Germanous chloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	10060-11-4
ChemSpider	4885679
EC Number	233-192-1
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
PubChem	6327122
InChI InChI=1S/Cl2Ge/c1-3-2 Key: QHGIKMVOLGCZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES Cl[Ge]Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	GeCl2
Molar mass	143.546 g/mol
Appearance	white-pale yellow solid
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

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.

Preparation

Solid GeCl₂ can be produced by passing germanium tetrachloride, GeCl₄, over Ge metal at 650 °C.

GeCl₄ + Ge → 2GeCl₂

It is also formed from the decomposition of chlorogermane, GeH₃Cl, at 70 °C.

2 GeH₃Cl → GeCl₂ + GeH₄ + H₂

Reactions

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 + H₂O

Solutions 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.