Europium(II) chloride explained
Europium(II) chloride is an inorganic compound with a chemical formula EuCl2. When it is irradiated by ultraviolet light, it has bright blue fluorescence.[1]
Preparation
Europium dichloride can be produced by reducing europium trichloride with hydrogen gas at high temperature:[2]
2 EuCl3 + H2 → 2 EuCl2 + 2 HCl
If dry europium trichloride reacts with lithium borohydride in THF, it can also produce europium dichloride:[3]
2 EuCl3 + 2 LiBH4 → 2 EuCl2 + 2 LiCl + H2↑ + B2H6↑
Properties
Europium dichloride can form yellow ammonia complexes:EuCl2•8NH3, and can dissolve to pale yellowish EuCl2•NH3. Europium dichloride can react with europium hydride at 120-bar H2, producing EuClH that fluoresces green.[4]
Notes and References
- Howell . J.K. . Pytlewski . L.L. . Synthesis of divalent europium and ytterbium halides in liquid ammonia . Journal of the Less Common Metals . August 1969 . 18 . 4 . 437–439 . 10.1016/0022-5088(69)90017-4.
- Klemm, Wilhelm; Doll, Walter. Measurements on the bivalent and the quadrivalent compounds of the rare earths. VI. The halides of bivalent europium. Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie, 1939. 241: 233–238. .
- Rossmanith, K.; Muckenhuber, E. Reaction of rare earth chlorides with lithium borohydride. II. Monatshefte fuer Chemie, 1961. 92: 600–604. .
- Kunkel. Nathalie. Rudolph. Daniel. Meijerink. Andries. Rommel. Stefan. Weihrich. Richard. Kohlmann. Holger. Schleid. Thomas. Green Luminescence of Divalent Europium in the Hydride Chloride EuHCl. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie. 641. 7. 2015. 1220–1224. 0044-2313. 10.1002/zaac.201400531.
