Yttrium(III) fluoride explained

Yttrium(III) fluoride is an inorganic chemical compound with the chemical formula Y F₃. It is not known naturally in 'pure' form. The fluoride minerals containing essential yttrium include tveitite-(Y) (Y,Na)₆Ca₆Ca₆F₄₂ and gagarinite-(Y) NaCaY(F,Cl)₆. Sometimes mineral fluorite contains admixtures of yttrium.^{[1] [2]}

Synthesis

YF₃ can be produced by reacting fluorine with yttria or yttrium hydroxide with hydrofluoric acid.

Y(OH)₃ + 3HF → YF₃ + 3H₂O

Properties

Yttrium(III) fluoride has a refractive index of 1.51 at 500 nm^[3] and is transparent in the range from 193 nm to 14,000 nm (i.e. from the UV to IR range).

Pure yttrium can be obtained from yttrium(III) fluoride by reduction with calcium.

Yttrium(III) fluoride crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system, with space group Pnma (space group no. 62), with the lattice parameters a = 6.3537 Å, b = 6.8545 Å, c = 4.3953 Å.^[4] Yttrium is nine times coordinated by fluorine atoms.

Occurrence and uses

It occurs as the mineral waimirite-(Y).^[5]

Yttrium(III) fluoride can be used for the production of metallic yttrium,^[6] thin films, glasses^[7] and ceramics.

Hazards

Conditions/substances to avoid are: acids, active metals and moisture.

References

1. Dinér. Peter. February 2016. Yttrium from Ytterby. Nature Chemistry. en. 8. 2. 192. 10.1038/nchem.2442. 26791904. 1755-4349. free. 2016NatCh...8..192D .
2. Web site: 2021-01-21. Tiny particles produce huge photon avalanches. 2021-06-11. Physics World. en-GB. 2022-01-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20220119095555/https://physicsworld.com/a/tiny-particles-produce-huge-photon-avalanches/. live.
3. Web site: 2007-09-28 . General Reserch Institute Nonferrous Metals . 2023-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928110301/http://en.grinm.com/channel.do?cmd=preview&id=348&&nid=1254 . 2007-09-28 .
4. Cheetham . A. K. . Norman . N. . Hope . Håkon . Kjekshus . Arne . Klewe . Bernt . Powell . D. L. . 1974 . The Structures of Yttrium and Bismuth Trifluorides by Neutron Diffraction. . Acta Chemica Scandinavica . 28a . 55–60 . 10.3891/acta.chem.scand.28a-0055 . 0904-213X. free .
5. Web site: Waimirite-(Y): Mineral information, data and localities. . 2017-03-10 . 2022-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220111020721/https://www.mindat.org/min-46049.html . live .
6. Web site: Yttrium Fluoride, YF3 - For Optical Coating . 2023-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100705064306/http://www.cerac.com/pubs/proddata/yf3.pdf . 2010-07-05 .
7. Web site: Yttrium Fluoride 99%-99.999% from Metall Rare Earth Limited . 2023-12-24 . www.metall.com.cn . 2023-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231224172242/http://www.metall.com.cn/yf.htm . live .