What is Cobalt chloride?

Cobalt chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula CoCl₂.

It has a variety of hydrates, and its hydrates are blue crystals. Cobalt chloride usually refers to its hexahydrate, which is a red monoclinic crystal that is stable at room temperature and loses six molecules of water when heated to 110°C, turning into blue anhydrous cobalt chloride.

Cobalt chloride has a wide range of uses, mainly used as analytical reagents, mordants, catalysts, desiccants, adsorbents, preparation of cobalt salts, pigments and glazing on ceramics. It can also be used to prepare cobalt oxides and other salts of cobalt. In addition, since the cobalt ions of cobalt chloride present different colors in the solution (depending on the degree of hydration), it is often used as a moisture and humidity indicator.

In the medical field, cobalt chloride is also used as a raw material for vitamin B12 and participates in the hematopoietic process in the body. However, it should be noted that excessive cobalt is harmful to the human body, so the dosage needs to be strictly controlled when used.

In general, cobalt chloride is an important inorganic compound with a wide range of applications in many fields.