Chloride-induced corrosion
Introduction
Chlorides are anions derived from hydrogen chloride and are compounds that carry a chlorine atom in the formal oxidation state -1. Therefore, they correspond to the lowest oxidation state of this element since it has a completed valence shell with eight electrons.
Inorganic chlorides
General characteristics
Inorganic chlorides contain the Cl anion and are therefore salts of hydrochloric acid (HCl). These are usually colorless solid substances with a high melting point.
In some cases the bond with the metal may have a certain covalent character. This is noted for example in mercury (II) chloride "Mercury (II) chloride") (HgCl) which sublimes at quite low temperatures. This is why this salt was formerly known by the name "sublimato".
Iron (III) chloride (FeCl) also shows some covalent character. Thus it can be extracted from a solution with a high concentration of chloride with ether "Ether (chemistry)") and without the presence of water of sublime crystallization at high temperatures.
Most chlorides, except mainly mercury chloride "Mercury (element)") (I) (HgCl), silver chloride (AgCl) and thallium (I) chloride (TlCl) are quite soluble in water.
In the presence of strong oxidants (permanganate, bismuthate), hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, etc.), chlorides can be oxidized to elemental chlorine. This oxidation can also be carried out by electrolysis. In fact, the electrolysis of sodium chloride in solution is the most used method to obtain this element in addition to sodium hydroxide.
Synthesis
Chlorides can be obtained by reaction of a base (oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, etc.) and hydrochloric acid.
Some less noble metals also react directly with hydrochloric acid giving elemental hydrogen and the corresponding chloride. The reaction with zinc, for example, would be the following:
Zn + 2 HCl -> ZnCl + H.
A direct reaction of the elements is also possible, although in many cases it is very violent.