Selenium dioxide
chemical compound
Selenium dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula SeO2. This colorless solid is one of the most frequently encountered compounds of selenium. It is used in making specialized glasses as well as a reagent in organic chemistry.
Properties
Solid SeO2 is a one-dimensional polymer, the chain consisting of alternating selenium and oxygen atoms. Each Se atom is pyramidal and bears a terminal oxide group. The bridging Se−O bond lengths are 1.79 Å and the terminal Se−O distance is 1.62 Å. The relative stereochemistry at Se alternates along the polymer chain (syndiotactic).
In the gas phase selenium dioxide is present as dimers and other oligomeric species, at higher temperatures it is monomeric. The monomeric form adopts a bent structure very similar to that of sulfur dioxide with a bond length of 1.61 Å. The dimeric form has been isolated in a low temperature argon matrix and vibrational spectra indicate that it has a centrosymmetric chair form. Dissolution of SeO2 in selenium oxydichloride give the trimer [Se(O)O]3.
The solid sublimes readily.
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