Cerium(III) bromide

Cerium(III) bromide is an inorganic compound with the formula CeBr₃. This white hygroscopic solid is of interest as a component of scintillation counters.

Cerium(III) bromide

Names
IUPAC names Cerium(III) bromide Cerium tribromide
Other names Cerous bromide
Identifiers
CAS Number	14457-87-5 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	76185 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.034.936
EC Number	238-447-0
PubChem CID	292780
UNII	GEM75FEL39 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60932338
InChI InChI=1S/3BrH.Ce/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Y Key: MOOUSOJAOQPDEH-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y InChI=1/3BrH.Ce/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 Key: MOOUSOJAOQPDEH-DFZHHIFOAB
SMILES [Ce+3].[Br-].[Br-].[Br-]
Properties
Chemical formula	CeBr3
Molar mass	379.828 g/mol
Appearance	grey to white solid, hygroscopic
Density	5.1 g/cm3, solid
Melting point	722 °C (1,332 °F; 995 K)
Boiling point	1,457 °C (2,655 °F; 1,730 K)
Solubility in water	4.56 mol kg−1 (153.8 g/100 g)[1]
Structure
Crystal structure	hexagonal (UCl3 type), hP8
Space group	P63/m, No. 176
Coordination geometry	Tricapped trigonal prismatic (nine-coordinate)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H319, H335
Flash point	Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions	Cerium(III) fluoride Cerium(III) chloride Cerium(III) iodide
Other cations	Lanthanum(III) bromide Praseodymium(III) bromide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Preparation and basic properties

The compound has been known since at least 1899, when Muthman and Stützel reported its preparation from cerium sulfide and gaseous HBr.^[2] Aqueous solutions of CeBr₃ can be prepared from the reaction of Ce₂(CO₃)₃·H₂O with HBr. The product, CeBr₃·H₂O can be dehydrated by heating with NH₄Br followed by sublimation of residual NH₄Br. CeBr₃ can be distilled at reduced pressure (~ 0.1 Pa) in a quartz ampoule at 875-880 °C.^[3] Like the related salt CeCl₃, the bromide absorbs water on exposure to moist air. The compound melts congruently at 722 °C, and well ordered single crystals may be produced using standard crystal growth methods like Bridgman or Czochralski.

CeBr₃ adopts the hexagonal, UCl₃-type crystal structure with the P6₃/m space group.^[4][5] The cerium ions are 9-coordinate and adopt a tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry.^[6] The cerium–bromine bond lengths are 3.11 Å and 3.16 Å.^[7]

Applications

CeBr₃-doped lanthanum bromide single crystals are known to exhibit superior scintillation properties for applications in the security, medical imaging, and geophysics detectors.^[8][9]

Undoped single crystals of CeBr₃ have shown promise as a γ-ray scintillation detector in nuclear non-proliferation testing, medical imaging, environmental remediation, and oil exploration.^[10]

Suppliers

• Sigma-Aldrich

References

1. Mioduski, Tomasz; Gumiński, Cezary; Zeng, Dewen; Voigt, Heidelore (2013). "IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 94. Rare Earth Metal Iodides and Bromides in Water and Aqueous Systems. Part 2. Bromides". Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data. 42 (1). AIP Publishing: 013101. Bibcode:2013JPCRD..42a3101M. doi:10.1063/1.4766752. ISSN 0047-2689.
2. Muthmann, W.; Stützel, L. (1899). "Eine einfache Methode zur Darstellung der Schwefel-, Chlor- und Brom-Verbindungen der Ceritmetalle". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft (in German). 32 (3). Wiley: 3413–3419. doi:10.1002/cber.189903203115. ISSN 0365-9496.
3. Rycerz, L.; Ingier-Stocka, E.; Berkani, M.; Gaune-Escard, M. (2007). "Thermodynamic Functions of Congruently Melting Compounds Formed in the CeBr₃−KBr Binary System". Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data. 52 (4). American Chemical Society (ACS): 1209–1212. doi:10.1021/je600517u. ISSN 0021-9568.
4. Morosin, B. (1968). "Crystal Structures of Anhydrous Rare-Earth Chlorides". The Journal of Chemical Physics. 49 (7). AIP Publishing: 3007–3012. Bibcode:1968JChPh..49.3007M. doi:10.1063/1.1670543. ISSN 0021-9606.
5. Wells, A. F. (1984). Structural Inorganic Chemistry (5th ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 421. ISBN 978-0-19-965763-6.
6. Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 1240–1241. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
7. Zachariasen, W. H. (1948). "Crystal chemical studies of the 5f-series of elements. I. New structure types". Acta Crystallogr. 1 (5): 265–268. Bibcode:1948AcCry...1..265Z. doi:10.1107/S0365110X48000703.
8. van Loef, E. V. D.; Dorenbos, P.; van Eijk, C. W. E.; Krämer, K.; Güdel, H. U. (2001-09-03). "High-energy-resolution scintillator: Ce³⁺ activated LaBr₃". Applied Physics Letters. 79 (10). AIP Publishing: 1573–1575. Bibcode:2001ApPhL..79.1573V. doi:10.1063/1.1385342. ISSN 0003-6951.
9. Menge, Peter R.; Gautier, G.; Iltis, A.; Rozsa, C.; Solovyev, V. (2007). "Performance of large lanthanum bromide scintillators". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 579 (1). Elsevier BV: 6–10. Bibcode:2007NIMPA.579....6M. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2007.04.002. ISSN 0168-9002.
10. Higgins, W.M.; Churilov, A.; van Loef, E.; Glodo, J.; Squillante, M.; Shah, K. (2008). "Crystal growth of large diameter LaBr₃:Ce and CeBr₃". Journal of Crystal Growth. 310 (7–9). Elsevier BV: 2085–2089. Bibcode:2008JCrGr.310.2085H. doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2007.12.041. ISSN 0022-0248.