How is yttrium nitrate hexahydrate prepared?

How is yttrium nitrate hexahydrate prepared?

The preparation of yttrium nitrate hexahydrate typically involves the following steps:

Dissolving Yttrium Compounds:

Yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), yttrium carbonate (Y₂(CO₃)₃), or yttrium hydroxide (Y(OH)₃) is dissolved in dilute nitric acid (HNO₃). The reaction with nitric acid effectively forms yttrium nitrate in solution.

Reaction Formula:

The general equation for the reaction with yttrium oxide can be given as:

Crystallization:

The solution of yttrium nitrate is then evaporated to promote crystallization. Controlled evaporation under the right conditions leads to the formation of yttrium nitrate hexahydrate crystals.

Cooling and Solidification:

The solution is cooled, allowing yttrium nitrate hexahydrate to precipitate out of the solution as solid hexahydrate crystals.

Filtration and Drying:

The resultant crystals are filtered out and washed to remove any impurities, and then dried carefully to avoid decomposition or loss of water molecules resulting in the formation of an anhydrous form.

Purification (if necessary):

If higher purity is required, the yttrium nitrate hexahydrate may undergo further purification processes such as recrystallization, where it is dissolved once again and re-crystallized.

The preparation process must be conducted with care to ensure the correct stoichiometry and purity of the yttrium nitrate hexahydrate, as well as to preserve the hexahydrate form without it converting to the anhydrous form. The final product is then stored in a suitable environment to protect it from moisture loss.