Holmium(III) chloride

Holmium(III) chloride

Names
Other names Holmium trichloride Holmiumchlorid
Identifiers
CAS Number	10138-62-2 14914-84-2 (hexahydrate)
PubChem	24992
Properties
Chemical formula	HoCl3
Molar mass	271.289 g/mol
Appearance	yellow crystals hygroscopic
Density	3.7 g/cm^3
Melting point	720 °C (1,328 °F; 993 K)[1]
Boiling point	1,500 °C (2,730 °F; 1,770 K) (decomposes)
Solubility in water	dissolves
Structure
Crystal structure	Monoclinic, mS16
Space group	C12/m1, No. 12
Related compounds
Other anions	Holmium(III) oxide
Other cations	Dysprosium(III) chloride, Erbium(III) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Holmium(III) chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula HoCl₃. It is a common salt but is mainly used in research. It exhibits the same color-changing behavior seen in holmium oxide, being a yellow in natural lighting and a bright pink color in fluorescent lighting.

Preparation

It forms upon union of the elements, but a more commonly used method involves heating a mixture of holmium(III) oxide and ammonium chloride at 200-250 °C:^[2]

Ho₂O₃ + 6 NH₄Cl → 2 HoCl₃ + 6 NH₃ + 2 H₂O

Structure

In the solid state it has the YCl₃ layer structure. ^[3]

References

1. Lide, David R., ed. (2006). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87th ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-0487-3.
2. Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Edited by G. Brauer, Academic Press, 1963, NY.
3. Wells A.F. (1984) Structural Inorganic Chemistry 5th edition Oxford. ISBN 0-19-855370-6