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Iridium(IV) oxide
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<p>Iridium(IV) oxide, IrO2, is the only well-characterised oxide of iridium. It is a blue-black solid. The compound adopts the TiO2 <a href="/facts/Rutile_structure/qwJH5ElN">rutile structure</a>, featuring six coordinate iridium and three coordinate oxygen. </p><p>It is used with other rare oxides in the coating of anode-electrodes for industrial electrolysis and in <a href="/facts/Microelectrode/IUHC6a7F">microelectrodes</a> for <a href="/facts/Electrophysiology/VPd5VYzm">electrophysiology</a> research. </p><p>As described by its discoverers, it can be formed by treating the green form of <a href="/facts/Iridium_trichloride/tuVFn9xu">iridium trichloride</a> with oxygen at high temperatures: </p> 2 IrCl3 + 2 O2 → 2 IrO2 + 3 Cl2 <p>A hydrated form is also known. </p>