Scandium chloride
Scandium chloride is an inorganic compound with the formula. It is a white, high-melting ionic compound, which is deliquescent and highly water-soluble. This salt is mainly of interest in the research laboratory. Both the anhydrous form and hexahydrate are commercially available.
Structure
crystallises in the layered [Bismuth(III) iodide|] motif, which features octahedral scandium centres. Monomeric is the predominant species in the vapour phase at 900 K, the dimer accounts for approximately 8%. The electron diffraction spectrum indicates that the monomer is planar and the dimer has two bridging Cl atoms each Sc being 4 coordinate.Reactions
is a Lewis acid that absorbs water to give aquo complexes. According to X-ray crystallogrphy, one such hydrate is the salt trans-. With the less basic ligand tetrahydrofuran, yields the adduct as white crystals. This THF-soluble complex is used in the synthesis of organoscandium compounds. has been converted to its dodecyl sulfate salt, which has been investigated as a "Lewis acid-surfactant combined catalyst" in aldol-like reactions.Reduction
Scandium chloride was used by Fischer et al. who first prepared metallic scandium by electrolysis of a eutectic melt of scandium chloride and other salts at 700-800 °C.reacts with scandium metal to give a number of chlorides where scandium has an oxidation state of less than +3, ScCl,,, and. For example, reduction of with scandium metal in the presence of caesium chloride gives the compound which contain linear chains of composition, containing octahedra sharing faces.