Tetrachloroauric acid

Synonyms

Gold tetrachloride, acid; Auric acid; Brown gold chloride; Chlorauric acid; Chloroauric acid; Gold trichloride hydrochloride; Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(1-); Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(III); Tetrachloroaurate(1-) hydrogen; Tetrachloroauric acid; Aurate(1-), tetrachloro-, hydrogen; Aurate(1-), tetrachloro-, hydrogen (1:1), (SP-4-1)-; Aurate(1-), tetrachloro-, hydrogen, (SP-4-1)-; [ChemIDplus] (SP-4-1)-Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate(1-); Hydrochloroauric acid; Aurochlorohydric acid; [Merck Index] Gold chloride; [Anachemia MSDS]

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Tetrahydrate: Golden-yellow to reddish-yellow or brown solid; Highly hygroscopic and deliquescent; [Merck Index] Hydrate: Dark yellow-brown odorless crystals; Deliquescent; [Anachemia MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used in photography, gold plating, and to make gilded and ruby glass; [Merck Index] "Used in root canal therapy." [ChemIDplus] AuCl, AuCl3, and tetrachloroauric acid are used in electrolytic refining of gold; [Nordberg, p. 821]

Comments

Contact with skin can cause blisters leaving violet-brown spots on exposure to light; [HSDB] Causes burns; Inhalation may cause corrosive injuries to upper respiratory tract and lungs; May cause skin sensitization; [Anachemia MSDS] See "Gold."

Biomedical References

Yes

Yes

Skin burns

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Electroplating
• Glass Manufacturing
• Photographic Processing