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'Dichlorine heptoxide' is the chemical compound with the formula Cl₂O₇. This chlorine oxide is the anhydride of perchloric acid. It is produced by the careful distillation of perchloric acid in the presence of the dehydrating agent phosphorus pentoxide:Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
:2 HClO₄ + P₄O₁₀ → Cl₂O₇ + H₂P₄O₁₁
It slowly hydrolyzes back to perchloric acid, which is also hazardous when anhydrous.
Cl₂O₇ is an endothermic molecule, which means that it is intrinsically unstable.
:Cl₂O₇ → Cl₂ + 3.5 O₂ ΔH = 135 kJ/mol
Cl₂O₇ is bent with Cl-O-Cl angle of 118.6° giving the molecule C₂ symmetry. The terminal Cl-O distances are 1.709 Å and the Cl=O distances are 1.405 Å. In this compound, chlorine exists in its highest formal oxidation state of 7+, although the bonding in this hypervalent molecule is significantly covalent.

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Safety

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Safety

Cl₂O₇ is strong oxidizer as well as an explosive that can be set off with flame or mechanical shock.

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