Characteristic

Chromium(III) chloride (also called chromic chloride) describes any of several compounds of with the formula CrCl₃ • xH₂O, where x can be 0, 5, and 6. The anhydrous compound with the formula CrCl₃ is a violet solid. The most common form of the trichloride is the dark green hexahydrate, CrCl₃ • 6H₂O.

Chemical formula：CrCl₃

Molar mass：158.36 g/mol (anhydrous)

                      266.45 g/mol (hexahydrate)

Appearance：purple (anhydrous), dark green (hexahydrate)

Density： 2.87 g/cm³ (anhydrous)

                 1.760 g/cm3 (hexahydrate)

Melting point：1,152 °C (2,106 °F; 1,425 K) (anhydrous)

                          83 °C (hexahydrate)

Boiling point：1,300 °C (2,370 °F; 1,570 K) decomposes

Solubility in water：slightly soluble (anhydrous)

                                 585 g/L (hexahydrate)

Solubility：insoluble in ethanol

                   insoluble in ether, acetone

Acidity (pKa)：2.4 (0.2M solution)

Magnetic susceptibility (χ)：+6890.0·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol

Crystal structure：YCl3 structure

Application

Chromium chlorides find use as catalysts and as precursors to dyes for wool.