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| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name Ytterbium(III) chloride | |
| Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.030.715 |
| EC Number |
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| UNII | |
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| Properties | |
| YbCl3 | |
| Molar mass | 279.40 g/mol |
| Appearance | White powder |
| Density | 4.06 g/cm3 (solid) |
| Melting point | 854 °C (1,569 °F; 1,127 K)[1] |
| Boiling point | 1,453 °C (2,647 °F; 1,726 K)[1] |
| 17 g/100 mL (25 °C) | |
| Structure | |
| Monoclinic,mS16 | |
| C12/m1, No. 12 | |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
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| Warning | |
| H315,H319,H335 | |
| P261,P264,P264+P265,P271,P280,P302+P352,P304+P340,P305+P351+P338,P319,P321,P332+P317,P337+P317,P362+P364,P403+P233,P405,P501 | |
| Related compounds | |
Otheranions | Ytterbium(III) oxide |
Othercations | Terbium(III) chloride,Lutetium(III) chloride |
| Supplementary data page | |
| Ytterbium(III) chloride (data page) | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Ytterbium(III) chloride (YbCl3) is aninorganic compound. It was first synthesized by Jan Hoogschagen in 1946.[2] It is a paramagneticLewis acid, like many of thelanthanide chlorides. This gives rise topseudocontact shifted NMR spectra, akin toNMR shift reagents. It reacts with NiCl2 to form a very effectivecatalyst for thereductive dehalogenation ofaryl halides.[3]
Thevalence electron configuration of Yb+3 (from YbCl3) is 4f135s25p6, which has crucial implications for the chemical behaviour of Yb+3. Also, the size of Yb+3 governs its catalytic behaviour and biological applications. For example, while both Ce+3 and Yb+3 have a single unpairedf electron, Ce+3 is much larger than Yb+3 becauselanthanides become much smaller with increasing effective nuclear charge as a consequence of thef electrons not being as wellshielded asd electrons.[4] This behavior is known as thelanthanide contraction. The small size of Yb+3 produces fast catalytic behavior and anatomic radius (0.99 Å) comparable to many biologically important ions.[4]
The gas-phasethermodynamic properties of this chemical are difficult to determine because the chemical candisproportionate to form [YbCl6]−3 ordimerize.[5] The Yb2Cl6 species was detected by electron impact (EI)mass spectrometry as (Yb2Cl5+).[5] Additional complications in obtaining experimental data arise from the myriad of low-lyingf-d andf-felectronic transitions.[6] Despite these issues, the thermodynamic properties of YbCl3 have been obtained and the C3Vsymmetry group has been assigned based upon the four active infrared vibrations.[6]
Anhydrous ytterbium(III) chloride can be produced by theammonium chloride route.[7][8][9] In the first step,ytterbium oxide is heated withammonium chloride to produce the ammonium salt of the pentachloride:
In the second step, the ammonium chloride salt is converted to the trichloride by heating in a vacuum at 350-400 °C:
Membrane biology has been greatly influenced by YbCl3, where39K+ and23Na+ ion movement is critical in establishingelectrochemical gradients.[10]Nerve signaling is a fundamental aspect of life that may be probed with YbCl3 usingNMR techniques. YbCl3 may also be used as acalcium ion probe, in a fashion similar to asodium ion probe.[11]
YbCl3 is also used to track digestion in animals. Certain additives to swine feed, such asprobiotics, may be added to either solid feed or drinking liquids. YbCl3 travelswith the solid food and therefore helps determine which food phase is ideal to incorporate the food additive.[12] The YbCl3 concentration is quantified byinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to within 0.0009 μg/mL.[4] YbCl3 concentration versus time yields the flow rate of solid particulates in the animal's digestion. The animal is not harmed by the YbCl3 since YbCl3 is simply excreted in fecal matter and no change in body weight, organ weight, orhematocrit levels has been observed in mice.[11]
The catalytic nature of YbCl3 also has an application inDNA microarrays, or so-called DNA “chips”.[13] YbCl3 led to a 50–80 fold increase influorescein incorporation into target DNA, which could revolutionize infectious disease detection (such as a rapid test fortuberculosis).[13]
