Gadolinium(III) fluoride is an
inorganic compound
In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...
with a chemical formula GdF
3.
Preparation
Gadolinium(III) fluoride can be prepared by heating
gadolinium oxide and
ammonium bifluoride. The reaction involves two steps:
: Gd
2O
3 + 6 NH
4HF
2 → 2 NH
4GdF
4 + 4 NH
4F + 3 H
2O
: NH
4GdF
4 → GdF
3 + NH
3 + HF
Alternatively, reacting
gadolinium chloride with
hydrofluoric acid
Hydrofluoric acid is a Solution (chemistry), solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water. Solutions of HF are colourless, acidic and highly Corrosive substance, corrosive. It is used to make most fluorine-containing compounds; examples include th ...
and adding hot water produces GdF
3·xH
2O (x＝0.53). Anhydrous gadolinium(III) fluoride can then be produced by heating the hydrate with ammonium bifluoride; without the bifluoride, GdOF is formed instead.
: GdCl
3 + 3 HF + x H
2O → GdF
3·xH
2O + 3 HCl
Properties
Gadolinium(III) fluoride is a white solid that is insoluble in water. It has an orthorhombic crystal structure with the
space group Pnma (space group no. 62).
Uses
Gadolinium(III) fluoride is used to produce
fluoride glass
Fluoride glass is a class of non-oxide optical glasses composed of fluorides of various metals. They can contain heavy metals such as zirconium, or be combined with lighter elements like aluminum and beryllium. These heavier elements cause the gla ...
es.
References
{{Lanthanide halides
Gadolinium compounds
Fluorides
Lanthanide halides