Plutonium(III) iodide

Plutonium(III) iodide is the iodide of plutonium with the chemical formula PuI₃.

Plutonium(III) iodide

Identifiers
CAS Number	13813-46-2
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
PubChem CID	145816492
InChI InChI=1S/3HI.Pu/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: OYUSUDICDNMHEI-UHFFFAOYSA-K
SMILES [I-].[I-].[I-].[Pu+3]
Properties
Appearance	green solid[1]
Density	6.92 g·cm−3[2]
Melting point	777 °C[1]
Structure
Crystal structure	orthorhombic
Space group	Ccmm (No. 63)
Lattice constant	a = 433 pm[2], b = 1395 pm[2], c = 996 pm[2]
Related compounds
Other anions	plutonium(III) hydride plutonium(III) fluoride plutonium(III) chloride plutonium(III) bromide
Other cations	neptunium(III) iodide americium(III) iodide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation

Plutonium(III) iodide can be formed by the reaction of plutonium and mercury(II) iodide:^[3]

2 Pu + 3 HgI₂ → 2 PuI₃ + 3 Hg

It can also be produced by reacting plutonium and hydrogen iodide at 450 °C. Even if there is only a small amount of oxygen and water in the reaction, the generated plutonium(III) iodide will immediately hydrolyze into plutonium iodide oxide.^[3]

2 Pu + 6 HI → 2 PuI₃ + 3 H₂

Properties

Plutonium(III) iodide is a green solid with a melting point of 777 °C. It is orthorhombic (plutonium(III) bromide structure), space group Ccmm (No. 63), lattice parameters a = 433 pm, b = 1395 pm and c = 996 pm.^[2]