Zirconyl chloride

Zirconyl chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula of [Zr4(OH)8(H2O)16]Cl8(H2O)12, more commonly written ZrOCl2·8H2O, and referred to as zirconyl chloride octahydrate. It is a white solid and is the most common water-soluble derivative of zirconium. A compound with the formula ZrOCl2 has not been characterized.
Production and structure.
The salt is produced by hydrolysis of zirconium tetrachloride or treating zirconium oxide with hydrochloric acid. It adopts a tetrameric structure, consisting of the cation [Zr4(OH)8]8+. features four pairs of hydroxide bridging ligands linking four Zr4+ centers. The chloride anions are not ligands, consistent with the high oxophilicity of Zr(IV). The salt crystallizes as tetragonal crystals.