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Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: omega54 on January 08, 2008, 07:07:55 PM

Title: Yttrium Trichloride (YC13)?
Post by: omega54 on January 08, 2008, 07:07:55 PM
Hello, I recently was searching a Element collecting site, and came upon a listing for a compound of Yttrium Trichloride, ampouled under Argon gas.

Could someone explain what is the attraction of this compound to element collectors and what makes this a rare chemical, as it seems to be selling very fast?

Excuse my iqnorance, but would appreciate any insight.

Many thanks
Title: Re: Yttrium Trichloride (YC13)?
Post by: agrobert on January 08, 2008, 08:28:50 PM
Yttrium in elemental form is highly reactive and dangerous.  The common oxidation state is +3 and is therefore kept as a trichloride because of stability.
Title: Re: Yttrium Trichloride (YC13)?
Post by: omega54 on January 08, 2008, 10:21:39 PM
Thank you for your reply concerning the yttrium trichloride, so if one purchases pure elemental
yttrium metal sealed in argon in a ampoule as most dealers offer it, will remain safe and unaffected as long as kept sealed?
thanks again
 steve
Title: Re: Yttrium Trichloride (YC13)?
Post by: agrobert on January 08, 2008, 11:18:06 PM
Thinking about it again, Yttrium is somewhat stable in air and should be suitable in a ampule sealed with Argon.  I believe the reason that it is sold as YCl3 is due to availability and difficulty of obtaining purity of elemental Yttrium. (Which probably means it is expensive)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yttrium#Occurrence