Europium(III) chloride

{{Chembox new
 * Name = Europium(III) chloride
 * ImageFile = Europium(III)_chloride_hexahydrate.jpg

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 * ImageName = Crystals of europium(III) chloride hexahydrate
 * OtherNames = Europium trichloride
 * Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
 * CASOther = [10025-76-0] (anhydr.)
 * EINECS = 233-040-4
 * RTECS = LE7525000
 * Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
 * Formula = EuCl{{sub|3}}
 * MolarMass = 258.32 g/mol (anhydr.)
 * Solvent = other solvents
 * SolubleOther = Soluble
 * MeltingPt = 632 °C decomp.


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 Europium(III) chloride is a compound of europium and chlorine with the molecular formula EuCl{{sub|3}}.

Properties
Europium trichloride is a yellow solid which begins to decompose at or below its melting point to give at least some EuCl2. Being hygroscopic it rapidly absorbs water on exposure to moist air to form a white crystalline hexahydrate, EuCl3.6H2O (Mr = 366.41 g/mol; CAS number [13759-92-7]). It is soluble in water, and (when anhydrous) it is expected to be also highly soluble in ethanol (by analogy with SmCl3). It is nine-coordinate (trigonal prismatic), and it crystallises with the UCl3 structure.

Preparation of anhydrous EuCl3
Simple rapid heating of the hydrate alone may cause small amounts of hydrolysis. Anhydrous EuCl3 can be made from the hydrate by heating with an excess of thionyl chloride for around 15 hours.

Uses
Europium(III) chloride can be used for the preparation of europium(II) chloride by reduction in a gold boat using hydrogen gas while heating slowly to 700 °C. The anhydrous chloride may also be used to prepare organometallic compounds of europium, such as bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)europium(II) complexes. Europium(III) chloride can be used as a starting point for the preparation of other europium salts.