Yttrium(III) chloride
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Through Chloride, Solubility and Hygroscopy
Structure
Solid YCl3 adopts a cubic structure with close-packed chloride ions and yttrium ions filling one third of the octahedral holes and the resulting YCl6 octahedra sharing three edges with adjacent octahedra, giving it a layered structure. This structure is shared by a range of compounds, notably AlCl3.
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Preparation and reactions
YCl3 is often prepared by the "ammonium chloride route," starting from either Y2O3 or hydrated chloride or oxychloride. or YCl3·6H2O. These methods produce (NH4)2[YCl5]:
- 10 NH4Cl + Y2O3 → 2 (NH4)2[YCl5] + 6 NH3 + 3 H2O
- YCl3·6H2O + 2 NH4Cl → (NH4)2[YCl5] + 6 H2O
The pentachloride decomposes thermally according to the following equation:
- (NH4)2[YCl5] → 2 NH4Cl + YCl3
The thermolysis reaction proceeds via the intermediacy of (NH4)[Y2Cl7].
Treating Y2O3 with aqueous HCl produces the hydrated chloride (YCl3·6H2O). When heated, this salt yields yttrium oxychloride rather than reverting to the anhydrous form.