Ytterbium(II) chloride

Ytterbium(II) chloride
Other names

ytterbium dichloride
Identifiers
CAS number 13874-77-6
ChemSpider 75606 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula YbCl2
Molar mass 243.95 g/mol
Appearance green crystals
Density 5.27 g/cm³, solid
Melting point

721°C
Solubility in water reacts[1]
Structure
Crystal structure Orthorhombic, oP24
Space group Pbca, No. 61
Hazards
EU classification not listed
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Ytterbium(II) chloride (YbCl2) is an inorganic chemical compound. It was first prepared in 1929 by W.K. Klemm and W. Schuth, by reduction of ytterbium(III) chloride, YbCl3, using hydrogen.

2 YbCl3 + H2 → 2 YbCl2 + 2 HCl

Like other Yb(II) compounds and other low-valence rare earth compounds, it is a strong reducing agent. It is unstable in aqueous solution, reducing water to hydrogen gas.[2]

References

  1. ^ Lide, David R. (1998), Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.), Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 4–94, ISBN 0-8493-0594-2 
  2. ^ ytterbium - Britannica Online Encyclopedia