Radiochemical studies on graphite ferric chloride

Graphite ferric chloride, C₁₂FeCl₃, was prepared by heating anhydrous ferric chloride with graphite at 305°C. The purified compound containing 53% ferric chloride was not attacked by hot 6N hydrochloric acid or 6N sodium hydroxide solutions. X-ray diffraction measurements gave a powder pattern which was distinctly different from that of either graphite or ferric chloride and from which it was apparent that no free ferric chloride existed in the compound. The separation of the graphite layer-planes was increased from 3.36 to 9.4Å by the intercalation of the ferric chloride molecules. Tests for exchange between C₁₂FeCl₃ and Fe⁺⁺⁺ ion were made using radioactive Fe⁵⁹. In no instance was any measurable exchange observed. The compound was subjected to neutron irradiation and the Szilard-Chalmers yield of separable activity calculated and identified. The separated portion contained less than 1% of the total activity and consisted of Fe⁵⁹, P³² and S³⁵, free of detectable radiation decomposition products. The active Fe portion was separated by ether extraction. The lack of exchange and the low Szilard-Chalmers yield are both attributed to the formidable steric hindrance effects which result from the configuration of the "stacked layers" structure for graphite ferric chloride.Science, Faculty ofChemistry, Department ofGraduat