Xenon tetrachloride

<p>Xenon tetrachloride is an unstable <a href="/facts/Inorganic_compound/TfFfzxSz">inorganic compound</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">chemical formula</a> XeCl4. Unlike other <a href="/facts/Noble_gas/j0yHMEAE">noble gas</a>/<a href="/facts/Halide/ujYu8kGD">halide</a> compounds, it cannot be <a href="/facts/Synthesis_(chemistry)/3KXsVVwC">synthesized</a> by simply combining the <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">elements</a>, by using a more-active halogenating agent, or by <a href="/facts/Substitution_reaction/zpqsbWAo">substitution</a> of other halides on tetrahaloxenon compounds. Instead, a <a href="/facts/Decay_technique/A4g61kYl">decay technique</a> can be used, starting with K129ICl4. The <a href="/facts/Iodine-129/oJDlGf5H">iodine-129</a> atom of the 129ICl–4 <a href="/facts/Covalent_bond/EzMLf3Pz">covalent</a> cluster is <a href="/facts/Radioactive/Ya6FVjt4">radioactive</a> and undergoes <a href="/facts/Beta_decay/vxTBlckp">beta decay</a> to become <a href="/facts/Xenon-129/Yz78R52h">xenon-129</a>. The resulting XeCl4 molecule has a <a href="/facts/Square_planar_molecular_geometry/2mLqCvd0">square planar molecular geometry</a> analogous to <a href="/facts/Xenon_tetrafluoride/blYIn0x7">xenon tetrafluoride</a>.
</p><p>Alternately, the product can be obtained by subjecting the elements to an electric discharge.
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Xenon tetrachloride open-in-new

Xenon tetrachloride