Cerium(IV) sulfate

Cerium(IV) sulfate
Other names Ceric sulfate
Identifiers
CAS number	13590-82-4 Y,  10294-42-5 (tetrahydrate)
ChemSpider	21160156 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES [Ce].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O
InChI InChI=1S/Ce.2H2O4S/c;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/p-4 Y Key: OKUXIJABYSDADS-UHFFFAOYSA-J Y InChI=1/Ce.2H2O4S/c;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/p-4 Key: OKUXIJABYSDADS-XBHQNQODAX
Properties
Molecular formula	Ce(SO4)2
Molar mass	332.24 g/mol (anhydrous) 404.304 (tetrahydrate)
Appearance	Yellow solid (anhydrous) yellow-orange crystals (tetrahydrate)
Density	3.91 g/cm3 (tetrahydrate)
Melting point	350 °C (decomp.)
Boiling point	NA
Solubility in water	Soluble in small amounts, hydrolyzes in large amounts of water 21.4 g/100 mL (0°C) 9.84 g/100 mL (20°C) 3.87 g/100 mL (60°C)
Solubility	soluble in dilute sulfuric acid [1]
Structure
Crystal structure	orthorhombic
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	Oxidizer
Y sulfate (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(IV) sulfate, also called ceric sulfate, is a yellow to yellow/orange chemical compound. It exists as the anhydrous salt Ce(SO₄)₂; a few hydrated forms are also known: Ce(SO₄)₂ ⋅ xH₂O, with x equal to 4, 8, or 12. Ceric sulfate is available commercially.

Properties

Ceric sulfate is moderately soluble in water and dilute acids. Its neutral solutions slowly decompose, depositing the light yellow oxide CeO₂. Solutions of ceric sulfate have a strong yellow color.

The tetrahydrate will lose the water when heated to 180-200 °C.

Uses

The ceric ion is a strong oxidizer, especially under acidic conditions. If ceric sulfate is added to dilute hydrochloric acid, then elemental chlorine is formed, albeit slowly. With stronger reducing agents it reacts much faster. For example, with sulfite in acidic environments it reacts quickly and completely.

When ceric compounds are reduced, so-called cerous compounds are formed. The reaction taking place is:

Ce⁴⁺ + e⁻ → Ce³⁺

The cerous ion is colorless.

Ceric sulfate is used in analytical chemistry for redox titration, often together with a redox indicator.

References

1. ^ Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0070494398