Chromium(III) bromide

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Chromium(III) bromide
Names
IUPAC name
Chromium(III) bromide
Other names
  • Chromic bromide
  • Chromium bromide
  • Chromium tribromide
Identifiers
3D model (
JSmol
)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard
100.030.068 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 233-088-6
UNII
  • InChI=1S/3BrH.Cr/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3
    Key: UZDWIWGMKWZEPE-UHFFFAOYSA-K
  • [Cr+3].[Br-].[Br-].[Br-]
Properties
CrBr3
Molar mass 291.708 g·mol−1
Appearance Black lustrous crystals; green in transmitted light, reddish in reflected light[1]
Density 4.25 g/cm3[2]
Melting point 1,130 °C (2,070 °F; 1,400 K) (anhydrous)[2]
79 °C (hexahydrate)
anhydrous: insoluble in cold water, soluble with addition of Chromium(II) ion salts,[1] soluble in hot water;[2] hexahydrate: highly soluble[2]
Structure
trigonal
Hazards
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 1 mg/m3[3]
REL (Recommended)
TWA 0.5 mg/m3[3]
IDLH
(Immediate danger)
250 mg/m3[3]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Chromium(III) bromide is an

oligomerization of ethylene
.

Synthesis

The compound is prepared in a tube furnace by the reaction of bromine vapor and chromium powder at 1000 °C. It is purified by extracting with absolute diethyl ether to remove any CrBr2, and is subsequently washed with absolute diethyl ether and absolute ethanol.[1]

Analogous to the behavior of related chromium(III) halides, the tribromide dissolves in water to give CrBr3(H2O)3 only upon the addition of catalytic amounts of a reducing agent, which generates CrBr2.[1] The reducing agent generates chromous bromide on the surface of the solid, which dissolves and re-oxidizes to Cr(III).[citation needed]

Reactions

Chromium(III) bromide is reduced by hydrogen gas at 350-400 °C to give chromium(II) bromide:[1]

2 CrBr3 + H2 → 2 CrBr2 + 2 HBr

References