AuCl2

AuCl2 is the chemical formula for gold(II) chloride. This compound is an unstable intermediate in the reaction between gold and chlorine. Gold(II) chloride is not a common or stable compound and is typically not isolated. When gold reacts with chlorine, it primarily forms gold(I) chloride (AuCl) or gold(III) chloride (AuCl3). The existence of AuCl2 is often inferred from reaction mechanisms rather than direct observation.

The electronic configuration of gold in AuCl2 would be unusual, with gold in a formal +2 oxidation state. This oxidation state is not particularly stable for gold. In most chemical reactions involving gold, the common oxidation states are +1 and +3. Gold(I) compounds tend to be linear, while gold(III) compounds are often square planar. The structure of any hypothetical AuCl2 species would depend on its coordination environment.

Research into gold compounds has explored various oxidation states, but AuCl2 remains largely theoretical or transient in nature. Its formation is more relevant to understanding the step-by-step process of gold chlorination rather than as a standalone, isolable chemical substance.