What Is The Appearance Of Niobium Iodide?

Niobium iodide can exist in several different forms, or phases, depending on the conditions under which it is prepared. However, the most common form of niobium iodide is a dark gray solid that adopts a layered structure known as the alpha phase. This phase is formed by stacking layers of niobium atoms between layers of iodine atoms.

The alpha phase of niobium iodide is insoluble in water and other polar solvents, but it can be dissolved in nonpolar solvents such as chloroform or carbon disulfide. It has a melting point of around 575 °C and is stable up to temperatures of around 900 °C.

Under certain conditions, niobium iodide can also adopt other structures, such as the beta phase, which is formed at high temperatures and pressures, or the gamma phase, which is formed by heating the alpha phase under vacuum. These other phases may have different properties and appearances compared to the alpha phase.