Perrhenic acid is the chemical compound with the formula . It is obtained by evaporating aqueous solutions of . Conventionally, perrhenic acid is considered to have the formula , and a species of this formula forms when rhenium(VII) oxide sublimes in the presence of water or steam.. When a solution of is kept for a period of months, it breaks down and crystals of are formed, which contain tetrahedral . For most purposes, perrhenic acid and rhenium(VII) oxide are used interchangeably. Rhenium can be dissolved in nitric acid or concentrated sulfuric acid to produce perrhenic acid.
Gaseous perrhenic acid is tetrahedral, as suggested by its formula .
Perrhenic acid in the presence of hydrochloric acid undergoes reduction in the presence of and tertiary phosphines to give rhenium(V) complexes with the formula .
Perrhenic acid combined with platinum on a support gives rise to a useful hydrogenation and hydrocracking catalyst for the petroleum industry.Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. . For example, silica impregnated with a solution of perrhenic acid is reduced with hydrogen at 500 °C. This catalyst is used in the dehydrogenation of alcohols and also promotes the decomposition of ammonia.
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