CrCl3
Chromium(III) chloride · Chromic chloride
Chromium(III) chloride is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as a precursor in chemical synthesis and industrial catalysis.

About Chromium(III) chloride
Chromium(III) chloride is a thermodynamically stable inorganic halide that exhibits semiconducting electronic properties. Its structural versatility is highlighted by the extensive number of reported configurations across major materials databases, making it a significant subject for solid-state research.
Due to its distinct electronic character and stability, this compound serves as a critical precursor in the synthesis of various organometallic chromium complexes. It is widely utilized in industrial catalysis and as a fundamental building block for specialized chemical manufacturing processes.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Chromium(III) chloride, aggregated across 3 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where Chromium(III) chloride is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chromium(III) chloride, answered from cross-validated data.
What is CrCl3?
Chromium(III) chloride is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as a precursor in chemical synthesis and industrial catalysis.
What is CrCl3 used for?
What is the band gap of CrCl3?
Is CrCl3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is CrCl3 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of CrCl3 are known?
What elements does CrCl3 contain?
Where does the data for CrCl3 come from?
How It Compares
As a prominent halide, Chromium(III) chloride serves as a foundational reference point for understanding the behavior of transition metal chlorides. Its status as a thermodynamically stable phase provides a benchmark for evaluating the structural and electronic trends within the broader family of chromium-based halides.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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