Gold(I) Chloride

Gold(I) chloride is a chemical compound with the formula AuCl. It is a yellow solid, soluble in water and polar organic solvents. The compound is often used as a source of gold ions in various chemical reactions, particularly in the synthesis of other gold compounds and nanoparticles.

Gold(I) chloride can be prepared by reacting gold metal with aqua regia, a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acids. The resulting solution contains gold(III) chloride (AuCl3), which can be reduced to gold(I) chloride using reducing agents such as sulfur dioxide or sodium metabisulfite.

The structure of gold(I) chloride consists of linear chains of alternating gold(I) and chlorine atoms. Each gold(I) ion is coordinated to two chlorine atoms in a linear geometry, with a bond distance of approximately 2.28 Å.

Gold(I) chloride is a relatively stable compound, but it can decompose upon exposure to light or heat, releasing chlorine gas and forming metallic gold. The compound also reacts readily with strong reducing agents to form elemental gold.

Overall, gold(I) chloride is an important reagent in gold chemistry and has numerous applications in materials science, catalysis, and nanotechnology.