No reaction SiO2 H3PO4

NaCl solid SiCl4 liquid PCl5 solid

HCl(g)

Chlorine acts as an oxidant toward elements to its left and below it in the periodic table. Chlorides containing Cl(-1) result.

The physical and chemical properties of chlorides depend on the position of the other element in the periodic table and its oxidation state.

• Chlorides of metals in the +1 or +2 oxidation state are ionic solids which simply dissolve in water.
• Chlorides of semimetals, nonmetals and metals in higher oxidation states are in general covalent. They are lower melting and react with water.