Sodium hexachloroiridate(III) explained

Sodium hexachloroiridate(III) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na₃IrCl₆.

Preparation

Sodium hexachloroiridate(III) can be produced by the reduction of sodium hexachloroiridate(IV) with Fe²⁺, oxalate or hydrogen sulfide.^[1]

It can also be produced by heating iridium metal with NaCl and Cl₂.

Reactions

Sodium hexachloroiridate(III) will get dehydrated at 110°C, and reversible decomposes at 550°C.^[2]

2 Na₃IrCl₆ ⇌ 2 Ir + 6 NaCl + 3 Cl₂

In air, sodium hexachloroiridate(III) will be oxidized at 450°C.^[2]

2 Na₃IrCl₆ + 2 O₂ → 2 IrO₂ + 6 NaCl + 3 Cl₂

It reacts with hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen hexachloroiridate(III).^[3]

It also reacts with ammonia water in sealed tube at 145°C to form [Ir(NH₃)₆]Cl₃.

Notes and References

1. Fergusson . JE . Rankin . DA . The chloro and bromo complexes of iridium(III) and iridium(IV). I. Preparation . Australian Journal of Chemistry . CSIRO Publishing . 36 . 5 . 1983 . 0004-9425 . 10.1071/ch9830863 . 863.
2. Pannetier . G. . Macarovici . D. . Gaultier . M. . Les complexes halogenes d'iridium . Journal of Thermal Analysis . Springer Science and Business Media LLC . 4 . 2 . 1972 . 0368-4466 . 10.1007/bf01911927 . 177–186 . 102384528 . fr.
3. Venediktov, A. B.; Kultyshev, R. G. Polynuclear iridium(III) chlorides. Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 1989. 34 (4). 909-915.