Shandong Huashang Chemical Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research and development, manufacturing, and sales of fine chemicals. Headquartered in Jinan, Shandong, China, we are committed to delivering high-quality products to our global partners. Currently, over 90% of our products are exported to developed markets, including North America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East.
Product Description
Gallium(III) Chloride (CAS: 13450-90-3), also known as Gallium trichloride or Trichlorogallium, is an inorganic covalent compound with the chemical formula GaCl?. It exists as colorless to white deliquescent crystals in solid form and exists as a dimer (Ga?Cl?) with a bitetrahedral structure containing two bridging chlorides, which is similar to the structure of aluminum tribromide. It is highly hygroscopic and fumes in moist air due to rapid moisture absorption and hydrolysis. With excellent catalytic activity and semiconductor properties, it is widely used in semiconductor manufacturing, organic synthesis, and solar neutron detection, serving as a key precursor for gallium-based compounds and a high-performance Lewis acid catalyst.
Uses
Semiconductor Industry (Main Use): As a critical raw material in the MOCVD (Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) industry, it is a key component for preparing the gallium precursor Tri-Methyl-Gallium (TMG), which is used for growing GaN layers in CVD processes. It is also applied in the processing of monocrystalline semiconductor compounds and the production of gallium-based quantum dots (e.g., GaP) and semiconductor devices for microelectronics and optics.
Organic Synthesis Catalyst: Acts as a high-efficiency Lewis acid catalyst for various organic transformations, including the ring opening and recyclization of epoxides, trimerization of alkynes, and allylation of carbonyl compounds in both aqueous and organic media. It can also be mixed with dibutylphosphoric acid to catalyze the polymerization of epoxides at 100–250 °C.
Other Applications: Used in the detection of solar neutrinos and the production of metallic gallium. It is also applied in the manufacturing of lithium thionyl chloride (LTC) batteries for oil and gas drilling operations and serves as a diamagnetic analogue for ferric compounds in coordination chemistry research.
Molecular Formula & Structure
- Molecular Formula: GaCl?
- Molecular Weight: 176.08 g/mol
- IUPAC Name: Gallium(3+) trichloride
- Synonyms: Gallium trichloride; Trichlorogallium; GaCl?; EZ-Pour® (granulated form)
- EINECS Number: 236-610-0
- Crystal Structure: Solid form adopts a bitetrahedral structure with two bridging chlorides; exists as a dimer (Ga?Cl?) in the gaseous state at around 270 °C.
Physical & Chemical Properties
- Appearance: Colorless to white needle-like crystals or granulated solid; odorless; no visible impurities; highly deliquescent and fumes in moist air.
- Melting Point: 77.9 ± 0.2 °C (lit.).
- Boiling Point: 201.3 °C at 760 mmHg (atmospheric pressure); decomposes at higher temperatures, emitting highly toxic hydrogen chloride fumes.
- Density: Solid: 2.47 g/cm3; Liquid (at melting point): 2.05 g/cm3; Granulated form (EZ-Pour®): 1.3–1.4 g/cm3 (at 25 °C).
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water (releasing a large amount of heat), ammonia, benzene, ether, carbon disulfide, and carbon tetrachloride; slightly soluble in petroleum ether; soluble in liquid ammonia to form ammonia complexes; can be extracted (98% yield) from aqueous hydrochloric acid solution with an equal volume of ether.
- Stability: Normally stable under ambient conditions (NFPA 704 instability rating: 1), but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. Stable in dry, inert atmosphere; highly sensitive to moisture and water; incompatible with strong bases and reducing agents; undergoes intense hydrolysis in moist air.
- Chemical Traits: A typical Lewis acid, weaker in acidity than aluminum chloride; reacts with chemical bases to form salts, generating heat and possibly gases; its coordination chemistry is similar to that of iron compounds, serving as a diamagnetic analogue for ferric compounds. It reacts slowly with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas, and evaporation of the solution yields the monohydrate (GaCl?·H?O).
- Toxicity: Corrosive (DOT hazard label: Corrosive); harmful if inhaled, swallowed, or injected; LD?? (oral, rat): 4700 mg/kg; LD?? (subcutaneous, rat): 306 mg/kg; LD?? (intravenous, rat): 47 mg/kg; LD?? (intraperitoneal, mouse): 93.4 mg/kg. Inhalation of aerosols (0.125–0.25 mg Ga/L) leads to gallium retention in alveoli without absorption; no reports of skin absorption; parenterally injected gallium compounds are mainly excreted in urine (7.8% of dose) and feces (3.3% of dose). May cause serious or permanent injury (NFPA 704 health rating: 3); non-flammable (NFPA 704 flammability rating: 0).
Synthesis & Storage
- Synthesis: ① Prepared by heating gallium metal in a stream of dry chlorine gas at 200 °C, followed by vacuum sublimation for purification (reaction: 2 Ga + 3 Cl? → 2 GaCl?). ② Prepared by heating gallium oxide (Ga?O?) with thionyl chloride (SOCl?) at 200 °C in a sealed tube (reaction: Ga?O? + 3 SOCl? → 2 GaCl? + 3 SO?), followed by distillation to remove excess SOCl? and sublimation purification. ③ Obtained by reacting gallium metal with dry hydrogen chloride gas at 200 °C, collecting the sublimated product of gallium(III) chloride.
- Storage: Sealed in airtight, moisture-proof containers; stored under inert atmosphere (nitrogen or argon) in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place at < 15 °C (recommended); strictly avoid contact with water and moisture; keep away from strong bases, reducing agents, and food raw materials; storage area must be locked (P405); shelf life is about 2 years under proper storage conditions.
- Safety: Operate in a well-ventilated, moisture-free environment; wear corrosion-resistant protective gear (gloves, goggles, face shield, protective clothing); avoid inhalation of fumes, dust, and skin/eye contact; wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling; if accidentally inhaled or in contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical attention if irritation persists; emits toxic chloride fumes when heated to decomposition, so use appropriate fire-fighting measures; dispose of waste in accordance with hazardous chemical regulations.
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