A dark red liquid, CrO₂Cl₂; r.d. 1.911; m.p. –96.5°C; b.p. 117°C. It is evolved as a dark-red vapour on addition of concentrated sulphuric acid to a mixture of solid potassium dichromate and sodium chloride; it condenses to a dark-red covalent liquid, which is immediately hydrolysed by solutions of alkalis to give the yellow chromate. Since bromides and iodides do not give analogous compounds this is a specific test for chloride ions. The compound is a powerful oxidizing agent, exploding on contact with phosphorus and inflaming sulphur and many organic compounds.