Osmium(III) chloride

Osmium(III) chloride is an inorganic chemical compound of osmium metal and chlorine with the chemical formula OsCl₃.^[1][2]

Osmium(III) chloride

Names
Other names trichloroosmium, osmium trichloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	13444-93-4 anhydrous 14996-60-2 trihydrate
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	75306
ECHA InfoCard	100.033.247
EC Number	236-587-7
PubChem CID	83468
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	3065457
InChI InChI=1S/3ClH.Os/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: UAIHPMFLFVHDIN-UHFFFAOYSA-K
SMILES Cl[Os](Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	Cl3Os
Molar mass	296.58 g·mol−1
Appearance	black-brown crystals
Melting point	560 °C (1,040 °F; 833 K)
Solubility in water	soluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

Osmium(III) chloride can be made by a reaction of chlorine with osmium:

2Os + 3Cl₂ → 2OsCl₃

It can also be made by heating of osmium(IV) chloride:

2OsCl₄ → 2OsCl₃ + Cl₂

Physical properties

Sample of commercial osmium trichloride trihydrate.

Osmium(III) chloride forms black-brown crystals.^[3]

Osmium(III) chloride forms a hydrate of the composition OsCl₃·3H₂O with dark green crystals.^[4]

Uses and reactions

Osmium(III) chloride hydrate is used as a precursor material for the production of dichlorodihydridoosmium complex compounds and other compounds.^[5]

It is the precursor to a variety of arene complexes.^[6]