Hexaamminenickel chloride

Hexaamminenickel chloride is the chemical compound with the formula [Ni(NH₃)₆]Cl₂. It is the chloride salt of the metal ammine complex [Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺. The cation features six ammonia (called ammines in coordination chemistry) ligands attached to the nickel(II) ion.^[1]

Hexaamminenickel chloride

Names
IUPAC name Hexaamminenickel(II) chloride
Other names Nickel hexammine chloride, hexamminenickel chloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	10534-88-0 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	11230400
ECHA InfoCard	100.149.740
PubChem CID	22221640
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID20328152
InChI InChI=1S/2ClH.6H3N.Ni/h2*1H;6*1H3;/q;;;;;;;;+2/p-2 Key: ZXZMQWZQMZHFOR-UHFFFAOYSA-L
SMILES [NH3+][Ni-4]([NH3+])([NH3+])([NH3+])([NH3+])[NH3+].[Cl-].[Cl-]
Properties
Chemical formula	Cl2H18N6Ni
Molar mass	231.78 g·mol−1
Appearance	violet solid
Density	1.51 g/cm3
Melting point	decomposes
Solubility	soluble in NH3
Structure
Coordination geometry	octahedral
Dipole moment	0 D
Related compounds
Other cations	[Cr(NH3)6]Cl3 [Co(NH3)6]Cl3
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Properties and structure

[Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺, like all octahedral nickel(II) complexes, is paramagnetic with two unpaired electrons localized on each Ni center. [Ni(NH₃)₆]Cl₂ is prepared by treating aqueous nickel(II) chloride with ammonia. It is useful as a molecular source of anhydrous nickel(II).^[2]

Related compounds

One commercial method for extraction of nickel from its sulfide ores involves the sulfate salt of [Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺. In this process, the partially purified ore is treated with air and ammonia as described with this simplified equation:^[3]

NiS + 2 O₂ + 6 NH₃ → [Ni(NH₃)₆]SO₄