copper chloride melting point is the temperature at which this compound will melt. It is a common reagent for several organic reactions, such as the synthesis of vinyl chloride monomer and many organocuprate compounds.
This compound has a weak oxidizing or reducing power, so it is usually not used to catalyze water-reactive or corrosive reactions. It is prepared by passing a dry chlorine gas over hot powdered copper metal.
It is also prepared in an indirect and rarely-used way, by electrolysis of aqueous sodium chloride with a copper electrode. The resulting blue-green foam can then be collected and converted to the hydrate.
Reaction with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones gives the methyl copper chloride salt and an organocuprate, which is the precursor of most of the chemical compounds containing this group (including the Gatterman-Koch and Grignard reactions). It can be used as a doping salt in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.
Cupric chloride is a mildly toxic and corrosive material, and should be handled with care. It is a strong mucous membrane and eye irritant, and should be stored in closed containers to prevent contact with airborne contaminants.
It should be kept in cool, dry and well-ventilated areas. It can be hazardous if it comes into contact with strong acids or oxidizing agents, and should not be mixed with potassium or other oxidizing agents.
It is a component of several wood preservatives, a mordant for dyeing and printing textiles, as a desulfurizing and deodorizing agent in the petroleum industry, and as an ingredient of cracking and isomerization catalysts. It is also an important ingredient of laundry-marking and invisible inks, as a fixer and desensitizer reagent in photography, and as a pigment for glass and ceramics.