Chloride sulfite

A chloride sulfite or sulfite chloride is a chemical compound that contains chloride and sulfite anions (SO32− Cl). The known compounds of this type are all late transition metal sulfito complexes. Chlorine may be present as a ligand (chloro) or as an ion (chloride). The sulfito ligand can connect to the metal atom by way of an oxygen, or a sulfur atom. It can also link to the metal atom using two oxygen atoms as a bidentate ligand.

Chloride sulfites are not to be confused with the chlorosulfites, which are compounds containing the SO2Cl ion or -SO2Cl group in organic compounds, where it is also called chlorosulfinate. The chlorosulfates also have the formula SO3Cl as a single ion, whereas chloride sulfites have three negative charges.

The mercury complex with formula ClHgSO3 is found in the acid gas scrubbers that purify pollution from smokestacks. However it decomposes and does not capture mercury in this application.[1] This complex can form an ammonium salt: ammonium chlorosulfitomercurate(II) NH4[ClHgSO3], which decomposes over 130°C. The salt is formed from mercuric chloride and ammonium sulfite water solutions.[2]

  1. ^ Senior, Constance (October 2007). "Review of the Role of Aqueous Chemistry in Mercury Removal by Acid Gas Scrubbers on Incinerator Systems". Environmental Engineering Science. 24 (8): 1129–1134. doi:10.1089/ees.2007.0105.
  2. ^ Weil, Matthias; Breitinger, Dietrich K.; Liehr, Günther; Zürbig, Jürgen (March 2007). "Structural Investigations and Thermal Behaviour of Mercury(II) Sulfito Complexes". Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie. 633 (3): 429–434. doi:10.1002/zaac.200600313.