Halogens, elemental bismuth halides

Reaction of elemental bismuth with the halogens at elevated temperatmes leads to the production of BiX3. Properties of the trihalides are summarized in Table 2. Bismnth is first oxidized by P2(g) to BiFs, with conversion to BiFs occming above 600 °C. The latter is the only known homoleptic bismnth(V) halide, although organic derivatives of the form... 

Halides of an element are often made by heating the element with the halogen at about 250 C. If this is done with selenium and bismuth (Figure 6.14), one, and only one, of the halogens will convert the elements into halides containing selenium and bismuth in their highest oxidation numbers. Which halogen is it, and what are the formulae of the two halides that are formed ... 

Halides of the type AX6, where A is P, As, Sb, or Bi, and X is F, Cl, Br, or I, may generally be obtained by interaction of the elements. It is also possible to react AX3-type compounds with the corresponding halogen, and this is particularly useful when X = F. The halides SbF6 and BiF6 are made in this way. The compounds SbBr6 (cf. Section II,A,2), Sbl6, and arsenic(V) and bismuth(V) halides other than the fluorides are unknown. 

---