Cerium(III) bromide

Cerium(III) bromide
IUPAC name Cerium(III) bromide Cerium tribromide
Other names Cerous bromide
Identifiers
CAS number	14457-87-5
ChemSpider	76185 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES [Ce+3].[Br-].[Br-].[Br-]
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
Properties
Molecular formula	CeBr3
Molar mass	379.83 g/mol (anhydrous)
Appearance	grey to white solid, hygroscopic
Density	5.1 g/cm3, solid
Melting point	722 °C
Boiling point	1457 °C
Solubility in water	Not Published Yet
Structure
Crystal structure	hexagonal (UCl3 type), hP8
Space group	P63/m, No. 176
Coordination geometry	Tricapped trigonal prismatic (nine-coordinate)
Hazards
EU classification	not listed
Flash point	not flammable
Related compounds
Other anions	Cerium(III) fluoride Cerium(III) chloride Cerium(III) iodide
Other cations	Lanthanum(III) bromide Praseodymium(III) bromide
Y bromide (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

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

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.^[1]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.^[2] 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 P6₃/m Space group.^[3]

Applications

CeBr₃-doped lanthanum bromide single crystals are known to exhibit superior scintillation properties for applications in the security, medical imaging, and geophysics detectors.^[4]

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.^[5]

Suppliers

• Sigma-Aldrich

References

1. ^ Muthman, W.; Stützel, L.; Chem. Ber. , 1899, 32, 3413-3419
2. ^ Rycerz, L.; Ingier-Stocka,E.; Berkani,M.; Gaune-Escard,M.; J. Chem. Eng. Data 2007, 52, 1209-1212
3. ^ Morosin, B.; J. Chem. Phys. 49, 1968, 3007
4. ^ van Loef, E.V.D.; Dorenbos, P.; van Eijk, C.W.E.; Güdel, H.U.; Krämer,K.W.; App. Phys. Lett. 79, 2001, 1573–1575. Mengea, P.; Gautier, G.; Iltis, A.; Rozsa, C.; Solovyeva, V.; Nucl. Inst. Meth. Phys. Res. A 579 2007 6–10
5. ^ Higgins, W.; Churilov, A.; van Loef, E.; Glodo, J.; Squillante, M.; Shah, K.; J. Crys.Gr. 310 2008 2085–2089.