Sulphuryl chloride, decomposition

The formation of sulphuryl chloride is favoured by low temperature and its decomposition by high temperature ... 

Sulphur oxytetraehloride 1 is a pungent, colourless, crystalline solid of m.pt. 57° C., with decomposition. Even when kept at the ordinary temperature it gradually liquefies on account of decomposition into thionyl and sulphuryl chlorides if decomposed rapidly at higher temperatures, the latter compound is naturally accompanied by or even replaced by its dissociation products.2... 

Many examples of this type of reaction are known the decomposition of arsine the decomposition of phosphine on surfaces of glass, f porcelain, J silica the decomposition of formic acid vapour on a variety of different surfaces— glass, platinum, rhodium, titanium oxide, and others the decomposition of nitrous oxide on the surface of gold Tf the decomposition of sulphuryl chloride on the surface of glass the decomposition of hydrogen iodide on the surface of platinum ff the decomposition of hydrogen selenide on the surface of selenium. J J A general discussion... 

A. Hantzsch and A. Holl recommended purifying the compound by crystallization from hot ethyl alcohol. A. Mente found it among the products of the action of ammonium carbonate on sulphuryl chloride and F. Ephraim failed to obtain it during the action of urethane on sulphuryl chloride. E. Divers and M. Ogawa observed the formation of this compound in the spontaneous decomposition of ammonium sulphinate. 

Sulphuryl chloride is slowly decomposed by cold water, but hot water or alkalies act rapidly and vigorously, sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid being formed. When sulphuryl chloride vapour is passed through a tube heated to dull redness, decomposition takes place with formation of sulphur dioxide and chlorine. 

Detection of Sulphuryl Chloride. According to Heumann and Kochling, when gaseous sulphuryl chloride is passed through a glass tube raised to dull red heat, decomposition takes place as follows ... 

Determination of Sulphuryl Chloride. A simple method of determining this substance is based on its quantitative decomposition into chlorine and sulphur dioxide when it is passed through a tube heated to duU-redness (see p. 259). Then on determining the chlorine and the sulphur dioxide by one of the ordinary methods, the amount of sulphuryl chloride present in the sample may be deduced. 

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