Ammonium hexachloroplatinate, also known as ammonium chloroplatinate, is the inorganic compound with the formula (NH4)2[PtCl6]. It is a rare example of a soluble platinum(IV) salt that is not hygroscopic. It forms intensely yellow solutions in water. In the presence of 1M NH4Cl, its solubility is only 0.0028 g/100 mL.
Preparation and structure
The compound consists of separate tetrahedralammoniumcations and octahedral [PtCl6]2−anions. It is usually generated as a fine yellow precipitate by treating a solution of hexachloroplatinic acid with a solution of an ammonium salt.[2] The complex is so poorly soluble that this step is employed in the isolation of platinum from ores and recycled residues.[3]
Ammonium hexachloroplatinate is used in platinum plating. Heating (NH4)2[PtCl6] under a stream of hydrogen at 200 °C produces platinum sponge. Treating this with chlorine gives H2[PtCl6].[2]
Ammonium hexachloroplatinate decomposes to yield platinum sponge when heated to high temperatures:[2][5]
Dust containing ammonium hexachloroplatinate can be highly allergenic. "Symptoms range from irritation of skin and mucous membranes to life-threatening attacks of asthma."[6]
^Cotton, S. A. Chemistry of Precious Metals, Chapman and Hall (London): 1997. ISBN0-7514-0413-6.
^Verde-Gómez, Y.; Alonso-Nuñez, G.; Cervantes, F.; Keer, A. "Aqueous solution reaction to synthesize ammonium hexachloroplatinate and its crystallographic and thermogravimetric characterization" Materials Letters, 2003, volume 57, p 4667-4672. doi:10.1016/S0167-577X(03)00381-1