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Topic: What happens to Europium metal if not kept in oil?  (Read 5027 times)

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Offline Mitch

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What happens to Europium metal if not kept in oil?
« on: January 17, 2007, 06:49:44 PM »
So, the lab has a bottle of Europium that is several decades old. Inside the bottle is just a liquid and the label says its pure >99.99% Europium inside. Does anyone know what compound is formed when Europium is exposed to moisture in the air?
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Offline pantone159

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Re: What happens to Europium metal if not kept in oil?
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2007, 08:51:32 PM »
I think you get Eu2O3 from O2, Eu(OH)3 from H2O, maybe some carbonate, the same as the rest of the lanthanides (except Ce) form. 
I can't imagine how this would turn into a liquid though.  Are you sure this isn't a solution of Eu?  Or the mineral ol/etc it was stored under?  I can't imagine Eu metal lasting decades, it corrodes fine under oil in much less time.

Offline Mitch

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Re: What happens to Europium metal if not kept in oil?
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2007, 02:36:16 AM »
It was oil, I found the metal ingot in the center.
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Offline jdurg

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Re: What happens to Europium metal if not kept in oil?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2007, 08:52:48 PM »
Yeah, Europium is one of those pesky little bitches of an element that does everything it can to avoid being sealed away completely oxide free.  Just like strontium and barium.  Take a chunk of the metal and sit it out in an open atmosphere for a few days and you wind up with powdered nothing.
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