Lutetium(III) nitrate is an inorganic compound, a salt of lutetium and nitric acid with the chemical formula Lu(NO3)3. The compound forms colorless crystals, dissolves in water, and also forms crystalline hydrates.[1] The compound is poisonous.[2]
Dissolving lutetium oxide in nitric acid:
| Lu2O3+6HNO3 \xrightarrow{90oC 2Lu(NO | |
| 3) |
3+3H2O}
To obtain anhydrous nitrate, the powdered metal is added to nitrogen dioxide dissolved in ethyl acetate:
| Lu+3N2O4 \xrightarrow{77oC Lu(NO | |
| 3) |
3+3NO}
Lutetium(III) nitrate forms colorless hygroscopic crystals.
Forms crystalline hydrates of the composition Lu(NO3)3•nH2O, where n = 3, 4, 5, 6.[3]
The hydrated lutetium nitrate thermally decomposes to form LuONO3 and decomposes to lutetium oxide upon further heating.[4]
The compound forms ammonium hexafluoroluthenate with ammonium fluoride:
| Lu(NO3)3+6NH4F \xrightarrow{ (NH | |
| 4) |
3[LuF6]\downarrow+3NH4NO3}
Lutetium(III) nitrate is used to obtain metallic lutetium and also as a chemical reagent.
It is used as a component of materials for the production of laser crystals.