Gold trichloride
Description
Dark orange crystals that decompose with light or heat. An aqueous solution is called chlorauric acid or acid gold trichloride. Gold trichloride is used as a toner for black and white photographs. It is also used as a glaze for ceramics, enameling glass and making Ruby glass. Other uses of gold trichloride include gold plating and the production of fine gold powder.
Synonyms and Related Terms
auric chloride; auric trichloride; gold (III) chloride; chlorauric acid (solution)
Risks
Decomposes with heat. Very hygroscopic. Contact, inhalation, and ingestion cause irritation and blisters. May cause severe allergic reactions.
Fisher Scientific: MSDS
Physical and Chemical Properties
Soluble in water, ethanol and ether.
| Composition | AuCl3 |
|---|---|
| CAS | 13453-07-1 |
| Density | 3.9 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 303.32 |
| Boiling Point | 229 |
Resources and Citations
- Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942
- The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 4542
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979