Dilute
aqueous pertechnic acid has long been known as strong monoprotic acid
that behaves as a simple pertechnetate ion in aqueous solution. As
pertechnic acid concentrates by evaporation, it becomes yellow and
then dark red, and dark-red crystalline material may ultimately be
obtained. We show that as pertechnic acid concentrates, at least three
compounds are formed: a yellow viscous liquid, a colorless (not red)
crystalline solid, and a small amount of an intensely colored red–purple
compound. The colorless crystalline compound melts at 118 °C
and can be melted and recrystallized several times with little decomposition.
The red–purple compound is apparently not stable at room temperature
and quickly decomposes if it is isolated. UV–vis spectra show
that Beer’s law does not hold as pertechnic acid concentrates
by evaporation. We report densities, 99Tc nuclear
magnetic resonance spectra, and ultraviolet–visible absorption
spectra for highly pure aqueous pertechnic acid (accompanied by the
other technetium compounds that form) ranging from 1 to 14 M in technetium
concentration.