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Gold salts

Sodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate , CAS 13874-02-7

NaAuCl4·2H2OMW 397.8 g/mol49.5% AuMade in Dublin, Ireland

Synonyms: Sodium gold(III) chloride dihydrate; Sodium aurichloride; Sodium chloroaurate dihydrate; Gold sodium chloride; NaAuCl4·2H2O

Also known as: Natriumtetrachloroaurat(III)-Dihydrat (German); Tetracloroaurato(III) de sodio dihidratado (Spanish); Tétrachloroaurate(III) de sodium dihydraté (French); Tetracloroaurato(III) di sodio diidrato (Italian); Natriumtetrachloroauraat(III)-dihydraat (Dutch)

GHS05
Corrosive
GHS07
Harmful

Overview

The sodium salt of tetrachloroauric acid: the same gold(III) chemistry as chloroauric acid, in a less hygroscopic solid that gives near-neutral solutions.

Sodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate is a water-soluble, orange-yellow gold(III) salt that serves as a less acidic, easier-to-handle alternative to chloroauric acid. It is a standard precursor for gold nanoparticles and colloids, for supported gold catalysts made by deposition–precipitation (for example Au/TiO2), for homogeneous gold(III) catalysis, for electroless and immersion gold plating baths, and for gold coordination compounds. Approximately 49.5% gold by mass; gold content is assayed on every lot.

Application areas

Typical applications of sodium tetrachloroaurate(iii) dihydrate

Sodium tetrachloroaurate is used wherever chloroauric acid would be but the free acid is a nuisance. In nanoparticle synthesis it gives the same citrate-, borohydride- and seed-mediated products with less pH drift, and in the deposition–precipitation preparation of supported gold catalysts (Au/TiO₂, Au/CeO₂, Au/Fe₂O₃) it reduces the amount of base needed to reach the pH 7–9 window at which [AuCl₄]⁻ hydrolyses to the hydroxo species that deposit on the support.

In homogeneous catalysis sodium tetrachloroaurate is a convenient gold(III) source for alkyne hydration, hydroamination and Friedel–Crafts-type additions, and for the oxidative coupling chemistry of gold(III). It is reduced by dimethyl sulfide, thiodiglycol or triphenylphosphine to the gold(I) chlorides used to make phosphine and N-heterocyclic carbene gold catalysts and luminescent gold complexes.

Other uses are electroless and immersion gold plating baths, the gold loading of resins and polymers, gold recovery and refining test work, and medicinal-chemistry research into gold(III) complexes. Its sodium content is irrelevant for most of these and an advantage where a chloride-rich, metal-ion-containing solution is being prepared anyway.

Specification

Product nameSodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate
SynonymsSodium gold(III) chloride dihydrate; Sodium aurichloride; Sodium chloroaurate dihydrate; Gold sodium chloride; NaAuCl4·2H2O
Molecular formulaNaAuCl4·2H2O
CAS number13874-02-7
Molecular weight397.8 g/mol
MetalGold (Au)
Metal content49.5% Au by mass (nominal; lot assay on the CoA)
Purity / grade≥99.9% (metals basis); Au ≈ 49.5%
AppearanceOrange to golden-yellow crystals; hygroscopic
SolubilityVery soluble in water, giving an orange-yellow, weakly acidic solution. Soluble in ethanol and acetone; sparingly soluble in diethyl ether.
Melting pointLoses water of crystallisation on gentle heating and decomposes to gold on strong heating.
HygroscopicityHygroscopic but not deliquescent: it can be weighed in air with reasonable care.
Aqueous solutionpH about 3–4 at 0.1 M (hydrolysis of [AuCl₄]⁻), compared with pH 1–2 for chloroauric acid.
StorageStore tightly closed in a dry place, protected from light. Keep away from reducing agents and metals.
Pack sizes1 g, 5 g, 25 g
Country of originIreland (manufactured in Dublin)

Solubility, melting point and density are literature values for the pure compound and are given for guidance; purity, gold assay and appearance are measured on each lot and reported on its certificate of analysis.

Handling and storage

  • Causes serious eye damage (H318), skin irritation (H315) and may cause an allergic skin reaction (H317). Wear goggles and nitrile gloves and avoid raising dust.
  • Hygroscopic: keep the container tightly closed in a dry place and return it to a desiccator after use.
  • Light slowly reduces gold(III) solutions to colloidal gold; store solutions in the dark and discard any that develop a purple or red tint before quantitative use.
  • Avoid contact with metal spatulas and reducing agents; use glass or plastic tools. Stains skin and glassware purple.
  • Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport: ships by standard courier.

Hazard classification (CLP / GHS)

GHS05
Corrosive
GHS07
Harmful
Signal wordDanger
Hazard statements
  • H315 Causes skin irritation.
  • H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction.
  • H318 Causes serious eye damage.
Precautionary statements
  • P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
  • P310 Immediately call a POISON CENTRE or doctor.
  • P264 Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
  • P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water.
  • P332+P313 If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
  • P261 Avoid breathing dust.
  • P272 Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
  • P333+P313 If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
TransportNot regulated for transport. Ships by standard courier.

Classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). The safety data sheet issued with each lot is the authoritative source; where this page and the SDS differ, follow the SDS. For research and industrial use only. Not for human, veterinary, food or cosmetic use.

Documents

Safety data sheet (SDS)

The current SDS for Sodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate is supplied with every quotation and shipment. Request a copy.

Certificate of analysis (CoA)

Issued per lot with gold assay. Enter the lot number from your label.

Find a CoA

Frequently asked questions

When should I choose sodium tetrachloroaurate over chloroauric acid?

Choose the sodium salt when you want a solid you can weigh accurately in air, when the method is sensitive to pH (deposition–precipitation, biological conjugation, enzyme or protein work), or when you want to avoid adding free hydrochloric acid to a formulation. Choose chloroauric acid when a published procedure specifies it or when the highest solubility and the lowest counter-ion load are needed.

How do I prepare a 10 mM gold stock from this product?

Dissolve 397.8 mg of sodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate (397.80 g/mol) in high-purity water and make up to 100.0 mL for a nominal 10 mM solution; alternatively dissolve a whole 1 g pack to 100 mL for a 25.1 mM stock. Correct for the gold assay on your lot's certificate of analysis if exact gold concentration matters. Store in the dark in glass.

What is the gold content?

Stoichiometric NaAuCl₄·2H₂O is 49.5% gold by mass. Each lot is assayed for gold and the result is printed on the certificate of analysis; use that value rather than the formula when calculating gold loadings.

Does sodium tetrachloroaurate need dangerous-goods shipping?

No. Unlike chloroauric acid (a Class 8 corrosive) it is not classified as dangerous goods for transport, so it ships by standard courier with no surcharge. It is still a hazardous chemical for handling purposes and is supplied with its safety data sheet.

Ordering, shipping and documentation
What is the CAS number of sodium tetrachloroaurate(iii) dihydrate?

Sodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate has CAS Registry Number 13874-02-7. Its formula is NaAuCl4·2H2O (397.8 g/mol) and it contains about 49.5% gold by mass.

How is sodium tetrachloroaurate(iii) dihydrate priced?

Pack prices are linked to the live gold spot price: gold content × spot €/g, plus a fixed fee per pack for manufacture, packaging and the certificate of analysis. The price shown is indicative and confirmed on your quotation; it excludes VAT and shipping.

Is sodium tetrachloroaurate(iii) dihydrate classed as dangerous goods for shipping?

No. Sodium tetrachloroaurate(III) dihydrate is not regulated for transport and ships by standard courier across Ireland and the EU.

Do you supply a certificate of analysis and SDS for sodium tetrachloroaurate(iii) dihydrate?

Yes. Every lot ships with a lot-specific certificate of analysis including gold assay, and the current safety data sheet is available on this page and on request. Lot certificates can also be retrieved by lot number from our CoA lookup.

Where do you ship sodium tetrachloroaurate(iii) dihydrate?

We ship from Dublin to Ireland (from €12.00) and to all EU member states (from €25.00), plus Northern Ireland. For research and industrial use only; business customers only.

Related gold and precious-metal compounds

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Potassium tetrachloroaurate(III)

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Palladium(II) chloride

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Grade
≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd ≥ 59.5%
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Sodium tetrachloropalladate(II)

Na2PdCl4 · CAS 13820-53-6

Sodium tetrachloropalladate(II) is a red-brown, water-soluble palladium(II) salt, the usual choice when a palladium source must be dissolved directly in water or alcohol. It is used for the aqueous synthesis of palladium nanoparticles and colloids, for Pd/C and other supported catalysts, for electroless plating activation, for ligand-free and aqueous-phase cross-coupling, and as a precursor to palladium(II) complexes. Approximately 36% palladium by mass; each lot is assayed and released with a certificate of analysis.

Grade
≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd ≈ 36%
Pack sizes
1 g, 5 g, 25 g
from €48.00 excl. VAT
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