Gold halide explained

Gold halides are compounds of gold with the halogens.

Monohalides

AuCl, AuBr, and AuI are all crystalline solids with a structure containing alternating linear chains: ..-X-Au-X-Au-X-Au-X-... The X-Au-X angle is less than 180°.

The monomeric AuF molecule has been detected in the gas phase.[1]

Trihalides

Gold triiodide does not exist or is unstable.

Gold(III) fluoride, AuF3, has a unique polymeric helical structure, containing corner-sharing squares.

Pentahalides

Gold(V) fluoride, AuF5, is the only known example of gold in the +5 oxidation state. It most commonly occurs as the dimer Au2F10.

References

  1. D. Schröder . J. Hrušák . I. C. Tornieporth-Oetting . T. M. Klapötke . H. Schwarz . Neutral Gold(I) Fluoride Does Indeed Exist . 1994 . . 33 . 2 . 212–214 . 10.1002/anie.199402121 .