Iridium tetrachloride

Soluble in water, alcohol, and dilute hydrochloric acid.

Insoluble in water, acids, alkalies. /Iridium trichloride alpha-form/

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of /hydrogen chloride/.

Decomposes at 763 °C. /Iridium Trichloride alpha-form/

/The chloride of iridium(IV) ion most likely does not exist as IrCl4./ Iridium(IV) ion tends to be six-cooridinate with octahedral geometry.

Hygroscopic

Warning

H302 (100%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P319, P321, P330, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 6 reports by companies from 3 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ The chlorides are poison or moderately toxic by ingestion and are eye and skin irritants. /Iridium chlorides/

/CASE REPORTS/ This paper presents the case of a non-smoking and non-atopic male, exposed to iridium chloride at work, who developed respiratory tract symptoms and contact urticaria. Application of iridium salt to normal skin caused contact urticaria. An iridium chloride prick test showed a positive reaction and a scratch test produced anaphylactoid reactions. Platinum salt allergy was excluded through prick testing with hexachloroplatinate solution. There is no previous report describing a case where an individual has a positive prick test reaction to iridium salts and simultaneously a negative one to platinum salts. The results are interpreted as immediate-type hypersensitivity (Type I allergy?) to iridium salt. The route of sensitization was probably through the airways. Further testing showed that iridium salt allergy could persist for at least 18 months after exposure ceases. 14 employees at the same factory were prick tested with iridium and platinum salts with negative results. /Chloride/

Iridium can form many compounds with oxidation states ranging from -1 to +6; however, the +3 and +4 are the usual states, both with octahedral coordination(1). The +3 and +4 oxidation states are likely to predominate for iridium under most normal environmental conditions(SRC). Ir(III) complexes are kinetically inert to ligand exchange, but rates can be accelerated in the presence of reducing agents that can convert Ir(III) to the less inert Ir(II) ion(1). Halide complexes of Ir(IV) such as [IrCl6]2- are readily reduced to the Ir(III) species in neutral or basic solution or in the presence of reducing agents (e.g., potassium iodide and sodium oxalate)(2). The reactions of iridium compounds in the environment are expected to be complicated and will depend on factors such as pH, redox potential and available coordinating ligands(SRC). /Iridium (III)/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination... . /Poison A and B/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poison A and B/

LD50 Rat oral 1560 mg/kg

LD50 Rat oral 4.67 mg/kg

Used in chemical analysis (testing for nitric acid in the presence of nitrous acid), microscopy, and plating solutions; [HSDB]

Electroplating [Category: Plate]

Analysis (testing for nitric acid in the presence of nitrous acid), microscopy, plating solution.

Catalyst for chlorination and polymerization reactions. /Iridium trichloride/

Iridium chloride (IrCl4): ACTIVE

Hexachloroiridic(IV) acid (H2[IrCl6]) (CAS No. 16941-92-7) and ammonium hexachloroiridate(IV) ((NH4)2[IrCl6]) (CAS No. 16940-92-4) are two industrial important iridium(IV) chloride salts. Hexachloroiridic(IV) acid is by far the most important iridium compound. Ammonium hexachloroiridate(IV) is important in the separtation process of platinum group metals (ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium and platinum). The best method for producing powder metal iridium is to reduce ammonium hexachloroiridate(IV) in an hydrogen atmosphere at 800 °C and strong heating in air gives an oxide material.