Arsenic Pentachloride
Arsenic pentachloride is a chemical compound with the formula AsCl5. It is a colorless or pale yellow solid that is highly reactive and unstable, decomposing readily to release toxic fumes of hydrogen chloride gas.
Arsenic pentachloride is primarily used as a reagent in organic chemistry for reactions such as chlorination, bromination, and Friedel-Crafts acylation. It can also be used as a catalyst in certain reactions.
The molecule has a trigonal bipyramidal shape, with three equatorial chlorine atoms arranged in a plane and two axial chlorine atoms above and below that plane. The central arsenic atom is surrounded by five chlorine atoms with a bond angle of 120 degrees between the equatorial atoms and 90 degrees between the axial atoms and the equatorial ones.
Due to its high reactivity and toxicity, arsenic pentachloride must be handled with extreme care. It can react violently with water, releasing hydrogen chloride gas and forming arsenic acid. Exposure to arsenic pentachloride can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, and prolonged exposure can lead to serious health effects such as lung damage, liver and kidney damage, and possibly cancer. Therefore, proper protective measures should be taken when working with this compound.