Germanium tetrabromide is the inorganic compound with the formula GeBr4. It is a colorless solid that melts near room temperature. It can be formed by treating solid germanium with bromine, or by treating a germanium-copper mixture with bromine:[2]

Ge + Br2 → GeBr4

From this reaction, GeBr4 has a heat of formation of 83.3 kcal/mol.[3]

The compound is liquid at 25 °C, and forms an interlocking liquid structure.[4] From room temperature down to −60 °C the structure takes on a cubic α form, whereas at lower temperatures it takes on a monoclinic β form.

References

  1. ^ Köhler, J.; Okudera, Η.; Simon, A. (2005). "Crystal structure of germanium tetrabromide, β-GeBr4, low temperature modification". Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - New Crystal Structures. 220 (1–4). Walter de Gruyter GmbH: 554. doi:10.1524/ncrs.2005.220.14.554. ISSN 2197-4578.
  2. ^ P. W. Schenk (1963). "Silicon and Germanium". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 2page=718. NY, NY: Academic Press.
  3. ^ Evans, D. F.; Richards, R. E. (1952). "233. The heats of formation of germanium tetrabromide and germanium tetraiodide". Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed). Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC): 1292. doi:10.1039/jr9520001292. ISSN 0368-1769.
  4. ^ Swamy, K. N.; Bhuiyan, L. B. (1980). "The Reference Interaction Site Model and the Structure of Liquid Germanium Tetrabromide". Physics and Chemistry of Liquids. 9 (2). Informa UK Limited: 169–174. doi:10.1080/00319108008084774. ISSN 0031-9104.