An orange-red liquid, S₂Cl₂, which is readily hydrolysed by water and is soluble in benzene and ether; r.d. 1.678; m.p. –80°C; b.p. 136°C. It may be prepared by passing chlorine over molten sulphur; in the presence of iodine or metal chlorides sulphur dichloride, SCl₂, is also formed. In the vapour phase S₂Cl₂ molecules have Cl–S–S–Cl chains. The compound is used as a solvent for sulphur and can form higher chlorosulphanes of the type Cl–(S)_n–Cl (n < 100), which are of great value in vulcanization processes.