Thorium dicarbide

Thorium dicarbide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ECHA InfoCard 100.031.926 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 235-131-4
  • InChI=1S/2C.Th
    Key: DQIWLHDGOYYZII-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Th].[C].[C]
Properties
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).

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

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]

References

  1. ^ Elton B. Hunt, R. E. Rundle (Oct 1951). "The Structure of Thorium Dicarbide by X-Ray and Neutron Diffraction 1". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 73 (10): 4777–4781. doi:10.1021/ja01154a090. ISSN 0002-7863. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  2. ^ Lide, David R. (2006-06-26). 1998 Freshman Achievement Award. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-0594-8.
  3. ^ RÖMPP Lexikon Chemie, 10. Auflage, 1996-1999: Band 6: T - Z (in German). Georg Thieme Verlag. 2014-07-16. ISBN 978-3-13-200071-1.
  4. ^ Bowman, A. L.; Krikorian, N. H.; Arnold, G. P.; Wallace, T. C.; Nereson, N. G. (1968-08-15). "The crystal structures of ThC2". Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. 24 (8): 1121–1123. Bibcode:1968AcCrB..24.1121B. doi:10.1107/S056774086800378X. ISSN 0567-7408.
  5. ^ Perry, Dale L. (2016-04-19). Handbook of Inorganic Compounds. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4398-1462-8.
  6. ^ G. B. Engle, W. V. Goeddel, C. S. Luby (Mar 1962). "Reaction-Rate Studies of Thorium-Uranium Dicarbides in Moist Air". Journal of the American Ceramic Society. 45 (3): 136–141. doi:10.1111/j.1151-2916.1962.tb11102.x. ISSN 0002-7820. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Yasuichi Sasaki, Fujio Ichikawa, Hisashi Imai, Shinobu Uruno (Jul 1962). "Acid Leaching of Thorium Carbide". Nature. 195 (4838): 267–268. Bibcode:1962Natur.195..267S. doi:10.1038/195267a0. ISSN 0028-0836. S2CID 29040177. Retrieved 2020-11-03.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External reading