Cobalt(II,III) oxide
chemical compound
Cobalt(II,III) oxide is an inorganic compound with the formula Co3O4. Along with cobalt(II) oxide, it is one of two well characterized and stable cobalt oxides. It is a black antiferromagnetic solid. As a mixed valence compound, its formula is sometimes written as Co2+Co3+2O4 and sometimes as CoO·Co2O3. It occurs naturally as the rare mineral guite which is named in honor of Prof. Xiangping Gu (1964-).
Structure
Co3O4 adopts the normal spinel structure, with Co2+ ions in tetrahedral interstices and Co3+ ions in the octahedral interstices of the cubic close-packed lattice of oxide anions.
Synthesis
Cobalt(II) oxide, CoO, converts to Co3O4 upon heating at around 600–700 °C (1,112–1,292 °F) in air. Above 900 °C (1,650 °F), CoO is stable. These reactions are described by the following equilibrium:
2 Co3O4 ⇌ 6 CoO + O2
Applications
Cobalt(II,III) oxide is used as a blue coloring agent for pottery enamel and glass, as an alternative to cobalt(II) oxide.
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