Praseodymium(III) fluoride explained

Praseodymium(III) fluoride is an inorganic compound with the formula PrF₃, being the most stable fluoride of praseodymium.

Preparation

The reaction between praseodymium(III) nitrate and sodium fluoride will obtain praseodymium(III) fluoride as a green crystalline solid:^[1]

Pr(NO₃)₃ + 3 NaF → 3 NaNO₃ + PrF₃

There are also literature reports on the reaction between chlorine trifluoride and various oxides of praseodymium (Pr₂O₃, Pr₆O₁₁ and PrO₂), where praseodymium(III) fluoride is the only product. The reaction between bromine trifluoride and praseodymium oxide left in the air for a period of time also produces praseodymium(III) fluoride, but the reaction is incomplete; the reaction between praseodymium(III) oxalate hydrate and bromine trifluoride can obtain praseodymium(III) fluoride, and carbon is also produced from this reaction.^[2] Praseodymium(III) fluoride can also be obtained by reacting praseodymium oxide and sulfur hexafluoride at 584 °C.^[3]

Properties

Physical

Praseodymium(III) fluoride forms pale green crystals of trigonal system^[4] (or hexagonal system^[5]), space group P 3c1, (or P 6/mcm), cell parameters a = 0.7078 nm, c = 0.7239 nm, Z = 6, structure like cerium(III) fluoride (CeF₃).

Chemical

Praseodymium(III) fluoride is a green, odourless, hygroscopic solid that is insoluble in water.

Uses

Praseodymium(III) fluoride is used as a doping material for laser crystals.^[6]

See also

• Praseodymium(III) chloride
• Praseodymium(IV) fluoride

Notes and References

1. Lin Ma, Wei-Xiang Chen, Yi-Fan Zheng, Jie Zhao, Zhude Xu. May 2007. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and characterizations of PrF3 hollow nanoparticles. Materials Letters. en. 61. 13. 2765–2768. 10.1016/j.matlet.2006.04.124. 2019-03-26.
2. Popov . Alexander I. . Glockler . George . Mar 1952 . Observations on the Fluorination of Praseodymium and Neodymium Compounds . Journal of the American Chemical Society . en . 74 . 5 . 1357–1358 . 10.1021/ja01125a521 . 0002-7863.
3. OPALOVSKII . A. A. . LOBKOV . E. U. . ERENBURG . B. G. . ZAKHAR'EV . YU. V. . SHINGAREV . V. G. . 1973-01-16 . ChemInform Abstract: RK. VON SF6 MIT SELTENERDMETALLOXIDEN . Chemischer Informationsdienst . 4 . 3 . 10.1002/chin.197303045 . 0009-2975.
4. Book: 1995 . Советская энциклопедия . 5-85270-092-4 . 4 . М. . Редкол.: Кнунянц И.Л. и др. .
5. Book: Редкол.: Никольский Б.П. и др. . 2-е изд., испр . М.-Л. . 1966 . Химия . 1 .
6. Book: Shalibeik, Hotan . Rare-earth-doped fiber lasers and amplifiers . 2007 . Cuvillier . 978-3-86727-467-8 . 1. Aufl . Göttingen .