Caesium perchlorate
Encyclopedia
Caesium perchlorate, CsClO4 (also known as cesium perchlorate), is a perchlorate
of caesium
. It forms white hygroscopic
crystals, which are soluble in water and ethanol
.
CsClO4 is the least soluble of the alkali metal perchlorates (followed by Rb, K, Li, and Na), a property which may be used for separatory purposes and even for gravimetric analysis
. This low solubility played an important role in the characterization of francium
as an alkali metal, as francium perchlorate coprecipitates
with caesium perchlorate.
When heated, CsClO4 decomposes to caesium chloride
above 250 °C. Like all perchlorates, it is a strong oxidant and may react violently with reducing agents and organic materials, especially at elevated temperatures.
Perchlorate
Perchlorates are the salts derived from perchloric acid . They occur both naturally and through manufacturing. They have been used as a medicine for more than 50 years to treat thyroid gland disorders. They are used extensively within the pyrotechnics industry, and ammonium perchlorate is also a...
of caesium
Caesium
Caesium or cesium is the chemical element with the symbol Cs and atomic number 55. It is a soft, silvery-gold alkali metal with a melting point of 28 °C , which makes it one of only five elemental metals that are liquid at room temperature...
. It forms white hygroscopic
Hygroscopy
Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment. This is achieved through either absorption or adsorption with the absorbing or adsorbing material becoming physically 'changed,' somewhat, by an increase in volume, stickiness, or other...
crystals, which are soluble in water and ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
.
CsClO4 is the least soluble of the alkali metal perchlorates (followed by Rb, K, Li, and Na), a property which may be used for separatory purposes and even for gravimetric analysis
Gravimetric analysis
Gravimetric analysis describes a set of methods in analytical chemistry for the quantitative determination of an analyte based on the mass of a solid...
. This low solubility played an important role in the characterization of francium
Francium
Francium is a chemical element with symbol Fr and atomic number 87. It was formerly known as eka-caesium and actinium K.Actually the least unstable isotope, francium-223 It has the lowest electronegativity of all known elements, and is the second rarest naturally occurring element...
as an alkali metal, as francium perchlorate coprecipitates
Coprecipitation
In chemistry, coprecipitation or co-precipitation is the carrying down by a precipitate of substances normally soluble under the conditions employed...
with caesium perchlorate.
| Temperature (°C) | 0 | 8.5 | 14 | 25 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility (g / 100 ml) | 0.8 | 0.91 | 1.91 | 1.974 | 3.694 | 5.47 | 7.30 | 9.79 | 28.57 |
When heated, CsClO4 decomposes to caesium chloride
Caesium chloride
Caesium chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula CsCl. This colorless solid is an important source of caesium ions in a variety of applications. Its crystal structure forms a major structural type where each caesium ion is coordinated by 8 chlorine ions...
above 250 °C. Like all perchlorates, it is a strong oxidant and may react violently with reducing agents and organic materials, especially at elevated temperatures.