Germanium(IV) iodide

Germanium(IV) iodide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula GeI₄.

Germanium(IV) iodide

Identifiers
CAS Number	13450-95-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	75317
ECHA InfoCard	100.033.271
EC Number	236-613-7
PubChem CID	83479
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID7065469
InChI InChI=1S/GeI4/c2-1(3,4)5 Key: CUDGTZJYMWAJFV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [Ge](I)(I)(I)I
Properties
Chemical formula	GeI4
Molar mass	580.248 g·mol−1
Appearance	red crystals[1] (For colors at different temperatures, see this document)[2]
Density	4.32 g·cm−3
Melting point	146 °C (419 K)[1]
Solubility	Soluble in non-polar solvents such as carbon disulfide, chloroform and benzene[3]
Hazards
GHS labelling:[4]
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H314
Precautionary statements	P260, P264, P264+P265, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P321, P363, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation

Germanium(IV) iodide can be obtained by the reaction of germanium and iodine^[2] or the reaction of germanium dioxide and 57% hydriodic acid:^[1]

GeO₂ + 4 HI → GeI₄ + 2 H₂O

Chemical properties

Germanium(IV) iodide reacts with tetraalkyl tin at 250 °C to form R₂SnI₂ and R₂GeI₂ (R= Et, Bu, Ph).^[5] It reacts with germanium and sulfur at high temperatures to produce red GeSI₂ and orange Ge₂S₃I₂.^[6] It reacts with diiron nonacarbonyl in an ionic liquid ([BMIm]Cl/AlCl₃) at 130 °C to obtain Ge₁₂[Fe(CO)₃]₈I₄.^[7]

12 GeI₄ + 15 Fe₂(CO)₉ → Ge₁₂[Fe(CO)₃]₈I₄ + 22 FeI₂ + 111 CO↑

Physical properties

Germanium(IV) iodide is an orange-red crystalline solid that hydrolyzes in water. It is soluble in carbon disulfide and benzene, but less soluble in carbon tetrachloride and chloroform.^[3] It begins to decompose into germanium(II) iodide and iodine above its melting point.^[8] Germanium(IV) iodide crystallizes in the cubic crystal system, space group Pa3 (space group no. 205), with the lattice parameter a = 11.89 Å. The crystal structure consists of tetrahedral GeI₄ molecules.