Cerium Chloride, Cerous Chloride, Cerium (III) Chloride, 18618-55-8

Cerium Chloride, Cerous Chloride, Cerium (III) Chloride, 18618-55-8

🧪 CERIUM CHLORIDE – FULL ENGLISH ANALYSIS

1️⃣ Physical and Chemical Properties

• Chemical Name: Cerium(III) Chloride Heptahydrate

• Chemical Formula: CeCl₃·7H₂O

• CAS Number: 18618-55-8

• EC Number: 242-376-1

• Molecular Weight: 372.58 g/mol

• Appearance: White crystalline powder

• Melting Point: ~90 °C (decomposes via water loss)

• Solubility: Soluble in water and alcohol

• Stability: Hygroscopic, degrades in humid conditions

• pH (aqueous solution): Slightly acidic (~4.0–5.0)

• Toxicity: Low, but laboratory handling precautions recommended

2️⃣ Detailed Applications

• Organic synthesis: Used as a Lewis acid catalyst

• Laboratory reagent: For rare earth element analysis

• CeO₂ production: Soluble precursor compound

• Optical glass additive: Adjusts refractive index

• Nanotechnology: Starting material for CeO₂ nanoparticle synthesis

• Ceramic additive: Used as pigment and functional additive

• Defense industry: Precision polishing in laser optics

3️⃣ Synonyms, CAS, EC, and Codes

4️⃣ Alternatives / Substitutes

• Cerium Nitrate (Ce(NO₃)₃): Alternative in synthesis and CeO₂ production

• Cerium Acetate (Ce(CH₃COO)₃): Substitute as catalyst and soluble form

• Lanthanum Chloride (LaCl₃): Similar catalytic and optical applications

• Zirconium Chloride: Alternative in polymer and coating systems

5️⃣ Sectoral Compatibility Table

6️⃣ Common Names

• Cerium salt

• White cerium crystal

• Cerium chloride powder

• Rare earth chloride

7️⃣ Production

• Starting Material: Cerium-rich ores

• Process: Reaction with hydrochloric acid → Filtration → Crystallization

• Grades Available: Technical and high-purity grades

• Main Producer Countries: China, India, USA

• Commercial Purity Grades: 99% to 99.99%

8️⃣ Mandatory Sectors and Processes

• Organic synthesis labs: Preferred as Lewis acid catalyst

• Nanomaterial synthesis: Starting material for CeO₂ nanoparticles

• Optical glass production: Used to adjust refractive index

• Defense optics: Used in precision polishing for laser systems