Description of experiment
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Needed compounds:
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niobium pentachloride : NbCl5
thionyl chloride : OSCl2
Class:
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elem=S,Nb
hydrolysis
Summary:
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Niobium pentachloride is soluble in thionyl chloride, but not very well. Also,
such a solution becomes turbid.
Description:
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Add a few crystals of niobium pentachloride to 1 ml of thionyl chloride: The
solid only partially dissolves. The liquid becomes bright yellow, and turbid.
Pour the turbid yellow liquid in a large excess amount of water: The liquid
quickly sinks to the bottom. Oily droplets are formed, which at once become
milky white. The yellow color at once disappears. The oily droplets quickly
hydrolyse, producing SO2 and HCl (which dissolve in the water again), and the
niobium pentachloride also very quickly hydrolyses, giving white turbidity
of hydrous niobium pentoxide.