Cerium(IV) hydroxide

Cerium(IV) hydroxide, also known as ceric hydroxide, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ce(OH)₄. It is a yellowish powder that is insoluble in water but soluble in concentrated acids.^[1]

Cerium(IV) hydroxide

Names
IUPAC name cerium(4+);tetrahydroxide
Other names ceric hydroxide
Identifiers
CAS Number	12014-56-1 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	21171175
ECHA InfoCard	100.031.441
EC Number	234-599-7
PubChem CID	10219931
UNII	20GT4M7CWG
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8065169
InChI InChI=1S/Ce.4H2O/h;4*1H2/q+4;;;;/p-4 Key: WTVAYLQYAWAHAX-UHFFFAOYSA-J
SMILES [OH-].[OH-].[OH-].[OH-].[Ce+4]
Properties
Chemical formula	Ce(OH)4
Appearance	bright yellow solid
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Not classified as hazardous
Related compounds
Other cations	lanthanum hydroxide praseodymium hydroxide
Related compounds	cerium(III) hydroxide cerium dioxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Production

Cerium(IV) hydroxide can be produced by reacting cerium(III) carbonate and acetic acid, then oxidizing it with hydrogen peroxide in base. The reactions are:^[2]

Ce₂(CO₃)₃ + 6 CH₃COOH → 2 Ce(CH₃COO)₃ + 3 CO₂↑ + 3 H₂O

2 Ce(CH₃COO)₃ + 3 H₂O₂ + 4 H₂O → 2 Ce(OH)₃(OOH) + 6 CH₃COOH

CH₃COOH + NaOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O

2 Ce(OH)₃(OOH) → 2 Ce(OH)₄↓ + O₂↑

The net equation is：

Ce₂(CO₃)₃ + 6 CH₃COOH + 3 H₂O₂ + 6 NaOH —^{343 K}→ 2 Ce(OH)₄ + 6 CH₃COONa + O₂↑ + 3 CO₂↑ + 5 H₂O

If using cerium(III) nitrate as ingredient, a similar reaction occurs:^[3]

2 Ce(NO₃)₃ + 3 H₂O₂ + 6 NH₃·H₂O → 2 Ce(OH)₃(OOH)↓ + 6 NH₄NO₃ + 2 H₂O

2 Ce(OH)₃(OOH) —^Δ→ 2 Ce(OH)₄↓ + O₂↑

It might also prepared by addition of sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide to a Ce⁴⁺ solution, being obtained as a gelatinous precipitate described as CeO₂·xH₂O, (x = 0.5–2). Boiling an insoluble Ce⁴⁺ salt in NaOH gives granular Ce(OH)₄.^[1]