Thallium(I) oxide explained

Thallium(I) oxide is the inorganic compound of thallium and oxygen with the formula Tl₂O in which thallium is in its +1 oxidation state. It is black and produces a basic yellow solution of thallium(I) hydroxide (TlOH) when dissolved in water. It is formed by heating solid TlOH or Tl₂CO₃ in the absence of air. Thallium oxide is used to make special high refractive index glass. Thallium oxide is a component of several high temperature superconductors. Thallium(I) oxide reacts with acids to make thallium(I) salts.

Tl₂O adopts the anti-cadmium iodide structure in the solid state. In this way, the Tl(I) centers are pyramidal and the oxide centers are octahedral.

Thallium(I) oxide, like all thallium compounds, is highly toxic.

Preparation

Thallium(I) oxide can be produced by decomposition of thallium(I) hydroxide at 100 °C or by heating thallium(III) oxide in the absence of air to 700 °C.^[1]

2 TlOH\longrightarrowTl _{2} O+H _{2} O Tl _{2O} _{3} \longrightarrowTl _{2} O+O _{2}

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey – Thallium
• Extract from The Columbia Encyclopedia

Notes and References

1. Book: Aldridge, S. . Downs . A. J. . The group 13 metals aluminium, gallium, indium and thallium : chemical patterns and peculiarities . Wiley . Chichester, West Sussex . 2011 . 978-0-470-97655-5 . 716206078 . 325.