Tungsten(V) chloride (WCl5) is a high-valence tungsten chloride composed of one tungsten atom and five chlorine atoms. It is an inorganic compound that appears as a flashing dark green crystalline solid.
Chemical Formula: WCl5
Molar Mass: 361.11 g/mol
Appearance: Dark green crystalline powder
Melting Point: 248°C
Boiling Point: 275.6°C
Density: 3.875 g/cm³ (at 25°C), with other sources reporting 3.88 g/cm³.
Solubility: Highly sensitive to moisture and water, decomposes when exposed to air. Soluble in water and hydrolyzes to form W₂O₅. Also soluble in organic solvents such as acetonitrile, benzene, chloroform, and carbon disulfide.
Stability: When heated in air, tungsten pentachloride forms tungsten oxychloride (WOCl₄). It decomposes in most polar solvents but is slightly soluble in non-polar solvents such as carbon disulfide.
Reactivity: Reacts readily with primary amines to form amine compounds.
Molecular Geometry: The WCl₅ molecule has a trigonal bipyramidal geometry, where the tungsten atom is bonded to five chlorine atoms via covalent sigma (σ) bonds, with shorter bond lengths in the equatorial plane.
Reduction Method: Tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) is reduced with red phosphorus at 250–280°C or with hydrogen at 380–400°C.
Disproportionation Reaction: Can be synthesized through the disproportionation reaction of tungsten tetrachloride (WCl₄) or by the thermal decomposition of tungsten trichloride (WCl₃).
Chlorination Reaction: Tungsten powder is placed in the upper layer and tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) in the lower layer, with chlorine gas introduced to react with the tungsten powder to produce crude tungsten pentachloride. The crude product is then sublimed at 280–300°C and condensed to obtain high-purity tungsten pentachloride.
Synthesis of Other Tungsten Compounds: WCl5 is used to synthesize other tungsten compounds, such as tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆), tungsten tetrachloride (WCl₄), tungsten powder, and tungsten carbide powder. These compounds have various applications, including tungsten powder for tungsten materials and alloys, and tungsten carbide powder for hard alloys.
Catalyst and Organic Compound Synthesis: WCl5 is also used in the synthesis of catalysts and organic compounds.
VI HALBLEITERMATERIAL GmbH (VIMATERIAL) implements a rigorous quality assurance system, conducting strict quality control across the entire production chain, reworking defective products, and releasing each batch only after passing detailed specification tests. The company adheres to the highest standards in R&D, production, shipping, and customer service, investigates deviations via the 8D procedure, complies with REACH and ASTM standards, ensures batch consistency and traceability, and is committed to building a socially responsible supply chain to protect human health and the environment.
Storage Conditions: Due to its sensitivity to moisture and water, tungsten pentachloride (WCl5) should be stored in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place, avoiding contact with air. It is typically stored in sealed tubes or under an inert gas atmosphere.
Transportation Precautions: During transportation, the packaging should remain intact and sealed, complying with relevant hazardous material transportation regulations. It should not be transported with moisture-sensitive substances or oxidizers.
VI HALBLEITERMATERIAL GmbH (VIMATERIAL) employs a stringent quality assurance system to ensure the reliability of our product quality. Strict quality control is implemented throughout the entire production chain, and for defective products, we strictly enforce the principle of rework and redo. Each batch is released only after passing detailed specification tests.
Every batch of our materials is independently tested, and, if necessary, we send samples to certified companies for testing. We provide these documents and analysis certificates with the shipment to certify that our products meet the required standards.
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