Lanthanum(III) chloride

Chembox new
Name = Lanthanum(III) chloride
ImageFile = Lanthanum_chloride.jpg
ImageName = Lanthanum(III) chloride
OtherNames = lanthanum trichloride
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 10099-58-8
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = LaCl₃
MolarMass = 245.26 g/mol
Appearance = white odorless powder
Density = 3.84 g/cm³, solid
Solubility = very soluble
MeltingPt = 860.0°C
BoilingPt = 1000.0°C
Section7 = Chembox Hazards
EUClass = not listed

Lanthanum chloride (LaCl₃) is a chemical compound. It is used as a mild Lewis acid to perform chemical reactions that usually require acidic conditions, such as converting aldehydes to acetals, under nearly neutral conditions.

The lanthanide ions are 9 coordinate in the trichloride.

The compound has been identified as a catalyst for the high pressure oxidative chlorination of methane to chloromethane with hydrochloric acid and oxygencite journal |author=Podkolzin SG, Stangland EE, Jones ME, Peringer E, Lercher JA |title=Methyl chloride production from methane over lanthanum-based catalysts |journal=J. Am. Chem. Soc. |volume=129 |issue=9 |pages=2569–76 |year=2007 |pmid=17295483 |doi=10.1021/ja066913w] . Interestingly in this process the +3 oxidation state of lanthanum remains unchanged.

Uses

Lanthanum chloride can be used to remove phosphates in swimming pools, which helps prevent algae growth. It is also used in biochemical research to block the activity of divalent cation channels, mainly calcium channels.

References