Lanthanum(III) chloride

Lanthanum chloride is the inorganic compound with the formula LaCl₃. It is a common salt of lanthanum which is mainly used in research. It is a white solid that is highly soluble in water and alcohols.

Lanthanum(III) chloride

Lanthanum(III) chloride Anhydrous
Names
Other names Lanthanum trichloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	10099-58-8 Y 10025-84-0 (heptahydrate) Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:231515
ChemSpider	58275 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.030.202
EC Number	233-237-5
PubChem CID	64735
UNII	04M8624OXV Y 936G1MX96X (heptahydrate) Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID2051502
InChI InChI=1S/3ClH.La/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Y Key: ICAKDTKJOYSXGC-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y InChI=1/3ClH.La/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: ICAKDTKJOYSXGC-DFZHHIFOAJ
SMILES Cl[La](Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	LaCl3
Molar mass	245.264 g/mol (anhydrous) 353.36 g/mol (hexahydrate) 371.37 g/mol (heptahydrate)
Appearance	white odorless powder hygroscopic
Density	3.84 g/cm3[1]
Melting point	858 °C (1,576 °F; 1,131 K) (anhydrous)[1]
Boiling point	1,000 °C (1,830 °F; 1,270 K) (anhydrous)
Solubility in water	957 g/L (25 °C)[1]
Solubility	soluble in ethanol (heptahydrate)
Structure[2]
Crystal structure	hexagonal (UCl3 type), hP8
Space group	P63/m, No. 176
Lattice constant	a = 0.74779 nm, b = 0.74779 nm, c = 0.43745 nm
Formula units (Z)	2
Coordination geometry	Tricapped trigonal prismatic,(nine-coordinate)
Related compounds
Other anions	Lanthanum oxide
Other cations	Cerium(III) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Preparation

Anhydrous lanthanum(III) chloride can be produced by the ammonium chloride route.^[3][4][5] In the first step, lanthanum oxide is heated with ammonium chloride to produce the ammonium salt of the pentachloride:

La₂O₃ + 10 NH₄Cl → 2 (NH₄)₂LaCl₅ + 6 H₂O + 6 NH₃

In the second step, the ammonium chloride salt is converted to the trichlorides by heating in a vacuum at 350-400 °C:

(NH₄)₂LaCl₅ → LaCl₃ + 2 HCl + 2 NH₃

Uses

Lanthanum chloride is also used in biochemical research to block the activity of divalent cation channels, mainly calcium channels. Doped with cerium, it is used as a scintillator material.^[6]

In organic synthesis, lanthanum trichloride functions as a mild Lewis acid for converting aldehydes to acetals.^[7]

The compound has been identified as a catalyst for the high pressure oxidative chlorination of methane to chloromethane with hydrochloric acid and oxygen.^[8] In Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC), lanthanum chloride enhances catalysts to convert heavy crude into valuable fuels like gasoline and diesel.^[9]

Also used in the field of geology as a very dilute solution, which when combined with the proper acids can help identify small >1% Strontium content in powdered rock samples.

Lanthanum chloride also contributes to environmental remediation by promoting- the catalytic transformation of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and phosphate ions, into less harmful products.^[10] It can also be commercially viable and significantly outperform conventional materials such as ion exchange resins, activated carbons, and iron oxides in water and wastewater treatment, especially for the removal of anionic pollutants.^[11]