Cobalt(III) chloride
chemical compound
Cobalt(III) chloride or cobaltic chloride is an unstable and elusive compound of cobalt and chlorine with the formula CoCl3. In this compound, the cobalt atoms have a formal charge of +3.
The compound has been reported to exist in the gas phase at high temperatures, in equilibrium with cobalt(II) chloride and chlorine gas. It has also been found to be stable at very low temperatures, dispersed in a frozen argon matrix.
Some articles from the 1920s and 1930s claim the synthesis of bulk amounts of this compound in pure form; however, those results do not seem to have been reproduced, or have been attributed to other substances like the hexachlorocobaltate(III) anion CoCl3−6. Those earlier reports claim that it gives green solutions in anhydrous solvents such as ethanol and diethyl ether, and that it is stable only at very low temperatures (below −60 °C).
Structure and properties
The infrared spectrum of the compound in frozen argon indicates that the isolated CoCl3 molecule is planar with D3h symmetry.
A scientific study of the stability of this and other metal trihalides at 50 °C was published by Nelsoon and Sharpe in 1956.
Aerodynamic properties for the gas phase have been determined by the Glushko Thermocenter of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Preparation
Cobalt trichloride was detected in 1952 by Harald Schäfer and Kurt Krehl in the gas phase when cobalt(II) chloride CoCl2 is heated in an atmosphere of chlorine Cl2.
The public source identifies “Cobalt(III) chloride” as chemical compound. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Cobalt, chloride and chemical.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Cobalt(III) chloride”, the useful work is to connect “chemical compound” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 2, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q16714121. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1956 and 1952.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Cobalt(III) chloride”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Cobalt(III) chloride primary sources, Cobalt(III) chloride archive and Cobalt research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Cobalt(III) chloride”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Cobalt(III) chloride” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.