Plutonyl chloride

Plutonyl chloride is an compound of plutonium, oxygen, and chlorine with the chemical formula PuO₂Cl₂. It is an inorganic compound featuring one plutonium atom in the +6 oxidation state, along with two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms. It was initially isolated by Alenchikova et al. in 1959.^[1]

Plutonyl chloride

Names
Other names Plutonium(VI) chloride oxide Plutonium dichloride dioxide
Identifiers
Properties
Chemical formula	PuO2Cl2
Molar mass	347 g·mol−1
Solubility in water	soluble
Related compounds
Other anions	Plutonyl fluoride
Other cations	Neptunyl chloride Uranyl chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

The plutonyl chloride solution can be prepared by oxidizing tetravalent plutonium chloride with chlorine. The plutonyl chloride is then isolated by evaporation of the solution in vacuum at room temperature.^[2]

Physical properties

Plutonyl chloride is soluble in water.^[3] It is known as the hexahydrate PuO₂Cl₂·6H₂O, an unstable solid which decomposes to a plutonium(IV) compound over time^[4] via alpha radiation from the plutonium.^[5]

Uses

Plutonyl chloride and its complexes are important in the context of nuclear fuel reprocessing.^[6]