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titanium tetrachloride

chemical compound

Quick Summary

Titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) is a volatile liquid compound used to produce titanium metal. It is made by reacting chlorine at high temperatures with titanium or titanium dioxide. This compound is also utilized in skywriting and smoke screens because it fumes in moist air.1

Titanium tetrachloride is a key intermediate in the Kroll process, a method for extracting titanium metal. In this process, titanium ores are treated with carbon and chlorine to produce TiCl4, which is then purified by distillation. The purified TiCl4 is subsequently reduced with magnesium to yield metallic titanium. Titanium itself is a lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant metal widely used in aircraft, spacecraft, and prosthetic devices.2

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