What Are The Properties Of Gold Iodide?

Gold iodide (AuI3) is a yellow to orange crystalline solid with a melting point of 168°C. It is sparingly soluble in water, but dissolves readily in organic solvents such as ethanol and ether. Gold iodide has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry, with the gold atom at the center. The molecule has three short covalent bonds between the gold atom and each of the three iodine atoms, as well as two longer intermolecular bonds between adjacent molecules. Gold iodide is a moderately strong oxidizing agent and can be used in various synthetic reactions, including the preparation of organogold compounds. However, due to its toxicity and instability, it must be handled with care.