Thorium dicarbide

Thorium dicarbide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula ThC₂.

Thorium dicarbide

Identifiers
CAS Number	12071-31-7 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ECHA InfoCard	100.031.926
EC Number	235-131-4
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID701314603
InChI InChI=1S/2C.Th Key: DQIWLHDGOYYZII-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [Th].[C].[C]
Properties
Chemical formula	ThC2
Related compounds
Other anions	Thorium disilicide
Other cations	Uranium dicarbide
Related compounds	Thorium carbide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation

Thorium dicarbide can be produced by reacting metal thorium and graphite at 2000~2500 °C:^[1]

Th + 2C → ThC₂

Properties

Physical

Thorium dicarbide is a yellow crystalline solid that decomposes in water.^[2] It ignites at 2773 °C and becomes superconducting at 9 K.^[3] At room temperature it has a monoclinic crystal structure with the space group C2/c (space group no. 15). At temperatures between 1430 °C and 1480 °C it exists in a tetragonal phase and above that in a cubic crystal structure.^[4]

Chemical

Thorium dicarbide can be rapidly hydrolyzed in the air to generate thorium dioxide, hydrogen and hydrocarbons.^[5] Its reaction rate is 10 times that of the corresponding uranium dicarbide.^[6] It can also react with acids, such as sulfuric acid, to generate thorium(IV) sulfate.^[7]