Tungsten(II) iodide explained

Tungsten(II) iodide is an iodide of tungsten, with the chemical formula [W₆I₈]I₄, or abbreviated as WI₂.

Preparation

Tungsten diiodide can obtained from the decomposition from tungsten(III) iodide:^[1]

It can also be formed by the displacement reaction of tungsten(II) chloride and iodine:

It can also be formed by the direct reaction of tungsten and iodine, which is a reversible reaction. This reaction can be used in halogen lamps.^[2]

Tungsten(II) iodide can also be obtained by reacting tungsten hexacarbonyl with iodine.^[3]

Properties

Tungsten(II) iodide is a dark brown-colored solid that is stable in air and moisture. Its structure is the same as tungsten(II) chloride, crystallising orthorhombic crystal system, with space group Bbem (No. 64), and lattice parameters a = 1258 pm, b = 1259 pm, c = 1584 pm.

Notes and References

1. Book: Handbuch der präparativen anorganischen Chemie. 3 . 1981 . Enke . 978-3-432-87823-2 . 3., umgearb. Aufl . Stuttgart.
2. Book: Latscha, Hans Peter . Chemie der Elemente . Mutz . Martin . 2011 . Springer . 978-3-642-16915-1 . Chemie-Basiswissen . Berlin Heidelberg.
3. Book: Johnson, Brian Frederick Gilbert . Inorganic chemistry of the transition elements . 1972 . Chemical society . 978-0-85186-500-3 . A specialist periodical report . London.