Zirconyl chloride


Zirconyl chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula of Cl8·12H2O, more commonly written ZrOCl2·8H2O, and referred to as zirconyl chloride octahydrate. It is a white solid and is the most common water-soluble derivative of zirconium. The salt is produced by hydrolysis of zirconium tetrachloride or treating zirconium oxide with hydrochloric acid. A compound with the formula ZrOCl2 has not been characterized.

Structure

It adopts a tetrameric structure, consisting of the cation 8+. features four pairs of hydroxide bridging ligands linking four Zr4+ centers. The chloride anions are not ligands, consistent with the high oxophilicity of Zr. The salt crystallizes as tetragonal crystals.