Uranium(IV) hydride

For the uranium hydrogen alloy, see Uranium hydride.
Uranium (IV) hydride
Names
IUPAC name
Uranium (IV) hydride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/U.4H
    Key: ADLLSJWBWKEZAC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [UH4]
Properties
Molar mass 242.06067
Related compounds
Other anions
 Uranium(IV) iodide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).


Uranium(IV) hydride is a chemical compound with the chemical formula UH4, a metal hydride.

In 1997, Souter et al. reported the production of UH4 reacting laser ablated uranium atoms with dihydrogen and capturing the product on solid argon. The assignment of the structure was made using infrared spectroscopic evidence supported by DFT calculations.[1] Uranium(IV) hydride has a quasi-tetrahedral (Cs) structure. UH4 is formed by the successive insertion of uranium into two hydrogen molecules:

U + H2 → UH2
UH2 + H2 → UH4

Further reaction with hydrogen, only produces dihydrogen complexes: UH4(H2)n (1 ≤ n ≤ 6).[2]

  1. ^ Souter, Philip F.; Kushto, Gary P.; Andrews, Lester; Neurock, Matthew (1997). "Experimental and Theoretical Evidence for the Formation of Several Uranium Hydride Molecules". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 119 (7): 1682–1687. doi:10.1021/ja9630809.
  2. ^ Raab, Juraj; Lindh, Roland H.; Wang, Xuefeng; Andrews, Lester; Gagliardi, Laura (2007). "A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of Uranium Polyhydrides with New Evidence for the Large Complex UH4(H2)6". The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 111 (28): 6383–6387. Bibcode:2007JPCA..111.6383R. doi:10.1021/jp0713007. PMID 17530832.