Thallium(I) hydroxide

Thallium(I) hydroxide, also called thallous hydroxide, is an chemical compound with the chemical formula TlOH. It is a hydroxide of thallium, with thallium in oxidation state +1. It is a thallium(I) salt of water. It consists of thallium(I) cations Tl+ and hydroxide anions OH−.

Synthesis
Thallium(I) hydroxide is obtained from the decomposition of thallium(I) ethoxide in water.


 * CH3CH2OTl + H2O → TlOH + CH3CH2OH

This can also be done by direct reaction of thallium with ethanol and oxygen gas.


 * 4 Tl + 2 CH3CH2OH + O2 → 2 CH3CH2OTl + 2 TlOH

Another method is the reaction between thallium(I) sulfate and barium hydroxide.


 * Tl2SO4 + Ba(OH)2 → 2 TlOH + BaSO4

Properties
Thallium(I) hydroxide is a strong base; it dissociates to thallium(I) cations, Tl+, and hydroxide anions, OH−, except in strongly basic conditions. Tl+ cation resembles an alkali metal cation, such as Li+, Na+ or K+.