Perchloratoborate is an anion of the form [B(ClO4)4]−. It can form partly stable solid salts with heavy alkali metals. They are more stable than nitratoborate salts. K[B(ClO4)4] decomposes at 35 °C, Rb[B(ClO4)4] is stable to 50 °C, and Cs[B(ClO4)4] can exist up to 80 °C. Perchloratoborates are analogous to perchloratoaluminates ([Al(ClO4)4]−). Another related anion is the chloroperchloratoborate, Cl3B(ClO4). Boron perchlorate itself is unstable above −5 °C. Decomposition On thermal decomposition the alkali perchloratoborate salts form an alkali perchlorate, and boron trioxide as a solid residue, and gas containing dichlorine heptoxide, chlorine dioxide, chlorine, and oxygen. 2 M[B(ClO4)4] → 2 MClO4 + B2O3 + (3 Cl2O7 or 6 ClO2 + O2 or 6 Cl2 + O2) When the alkali perchloratoborates first start to decompose at the lower temperatures, the reaction is endothermic, and dichlorine heptoxide is formed. However, if caesium perchloratoborate is heated the decomposition becomes exothermic above 90 °C, and at 100 °C it explodes exothermically forming chlorine and oxygen. Reactions When rubidium perchloratoborate is reacted with extra perchloric acid, it forms RbBO(ClO4)2. In water, alkali perchloratoborates decompose exothermically to form boric acid, perchloric acid, and the perchlorate. Formation Nitronium perchloratoborate (NO2B(ClO4)4)can be formed by reacting nitronium perchlorate with boron trichloride in solution. Similarly ammonium perchlorate reacts with BCl3 forming ammonium perchloratoborate. The metal perchloratoborates can also be formed from the metal perchlorate dissolved in anhydrous perchloric acid reacting with boron trichloride. Another way is to react a metal chloridoborate (MBCl4) with perchloric acid. Chloridoborates can be made from the metal chloride and boron trichloride dissolved in nitrosyl chloride. Extra Cl2O7 drives the reaction forward. BCl3 + 3HClO4 → B(ClO4)3 Also formed is BCl2ClO4 and BCl(ClO4)2 which disproportionates above −78 °C to the boron perchlorate and dichloroboron perchlorate. B(ClO4)3 + → Properties Caesium perchloratoborate is hydroscopic. It has a density of 2.5 g/cm3. It has no colour. Infrared absorption bands are observed in caesium perchloratoborate at 640 and 1,087 cm−1. Potassium perchloratoborate has density 2.18 g/cm3, and rubidium perchloratoborate has density 2.32 g/cm3. The three alkali perchloratoborates fume in moist air, are all crystalline and colourless. References Perchlorates Borates Anions