Polonium dichloride is a chemical compound of the radioactive metalloid, polonium and chlorine. Its chemical formula is . It is an ionic salt.
Polonium dichloride appears to crystallise with an orthorhombic unit cell in either the P222, Pmm2 or Pmmm space group, although this is likely a pseudo-cell. Alternatively, the true space group may be monoclinic or triclinic, with one or more cell angles close to 90°. Assuming the space group is P222, the structure exhibits distorted cubic coordination of Po as and distorted square planar coordination of Cl as .
can be obtained either by halogenation of polonium metal or by dehalogenation of polonium tetrachloride, . Methods for dehalogenating include thermal decomposition at 300 °C, reduction of cold, slightly moist by sulfur dioxide; and heating in a stream of carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide at 150 °C.
dissolves in dilute hydrochloric acid to give a pink solution, which autoxidises to Po(IV). is rapidly oxidised by hydrogen peroxide or chlorine water. Addition of potassium hydroxide to the pink solution results in a dark brown precipitate – possibly hydrated PoO or – which is rapidly oxidised to Po(IV). With dilute nitric acid, forms a dark red solution followed by a flaky white precipitate of unknown composition.