Ruthenium tetrachloride

Ruthenium(IV) tetrachloride is volatile inorganic compound of ruthenium and chlorine with the formula RuCl₄.^[1][2]

Ruthenium tetrachloride

Names
Other names Ruthenium(IV) chloride, ruthenium(4+) tetrachloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	13465-52-6
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	14807928
ECHA InfoCard	100.033.347
EC Number	236-697-5
PubChem CID	44145691
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	50928705
InChI InChI=1S/4ClH.Ru/h4*1H;/q;;;;+4/p-4 Key: IREVRWRNACELSM-UHFFFAOYSA-J
SMILES [Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Ru+4]
Properties
Chemical formula	Cl4Ru
Molar mass	242.87 g·mol−1
Related compounds
Related compounds	Osmium tetrachloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

Synthesis of ruthenium(IV) tetrachloride is formed by the action of chlorine gas on ruthenium(III) chloride at 750 °C:

RuCl₃ + 0.5Cl₂ → RuCl₄

The RuCl₄ is collected on a liquefied air cooled condenser and decomposes above -30 °C.^[1] The reaction was determined to have the following thermodynamic properties:

• ΔH°₂₉₈ = 36.6 kcal/mol (enthalpy)
• ΔS°₂₉₈ = 32.8 entropy units (entropy change)
• ΔC°_p = -6.6 cal/mol degree (change in heat capacity at constant pressure)
• S°₂₉₈ = 99.3 entropy units

The degree signs indicate standard state.

Properties

Ruthenium(IV) tetrachloride decomposes above -30 °C:^[3]

RuCl₄ → RuCl₃ + 0.5Cl₂