What Is Manganese Chloride?
Manganese chloride is a chemical compound combining manganese and chlorine, predominantly known as manganese(II) chloride or manganese dichloride. With a chemical formula of MnCl2, it is vital to handle this compound carefully due to the risk of manganese poisoning from prolonged exposure to its powder or vapor.
Uses of Manganese Chloride
Manganese(II) chloride has diverse applications across various industries. It is utilized in dyeing, pigment production for ceramics, and pharmaceuticals, and as a catalyst in chloride synthesis. Other notable uses include paint desiccants, accelerators in chemical fertilizers, desiccants in printing inks, components in dry cell batteries, fluxes for light alloys, glass, zeolites, and as a contrast agent for MRI in medicine.
Properties of Manganese Chloride
This compound forms a pale red crystal, slightly soluble in ethanol and water. Its aqueous solution is mildly acidic, producing a pale red tetrahydrate MnCl2・4H2O under specific conditions. Manganese chloride is crucial in synthesizing various manganese compounds, acting as a weak Lewis acid.
Structure of Manganese Chloride
The anhydrous form of manganese chloride showcases a hexagonal cadmium chloride-type crystal structure and exhibits paramagnetism. Both dihydrate and tetrahydrate forms of manganese chloride are also recognized.
Other Information on Manganese Chloride
1. Manganese(II) Chloride Synthesis
Naturally occurring in places like Vesuvius, manganese(II) chloride can be synthesized through reactions involving chlorine and manganese or by reducing manganese(IV) oxide with hydrochloric acid, a process historically used in chlorine production.
2. Reaction of Manganese(II) Chloride
Reactions with organic compound ligands can form trivalent manganese complexes through air oxidation. Manganese(II) chloride is notably used in synthesizing organomanganese compounds like manganocene under anhydrous conditions.
3. Characteristics of Manganese(III) Chloride
Manganese(III) chloride, a black powder, can be synthesized by reacting manganese acetate with hydrogen chloride at low temperatures. It is thermally unstable and forms a brown chloro complex solution when reacted with chlorine in a concentrated hydrochloric acid solution of manganese(II) chloride.