Lanthanum(III) chloride
[CAS# 10099-58-8]

Identification

• Classification: Inorganic chemical industry >> Inorganic salt >> Metal halides and halides >> Metal chlorides and salts
• Name: Lanthanum(III) chloride
• Molecular Formula: LaCl₃
• Molecular Weight: 245.26
• CAS Registry Number: 10099-58-8
• EC Number: 233-237-5
• SMILES: Cl[La](Cl)Cl

Properties

• Solubility: 143% w/w (water 80 ºC)
• Density: 3.84
• Melting point: 860 ºC
• Boiling point: 1812 ºC

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS05;GHS07;GHS09 Danger
• Hazard Statements: H290-H315-H318-H319-H335-H411
• Precautionary Statements: P234-P261-P264-P264+P265-P271-P272-P273-P280-P302+P352-P304+P340-P305+P351+P338-P305+P354+P338-P317-P319-P321-P332+P317-P333+P317-P337+P317-P362+P364-P390-P391-P403+P233-P405-P406-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	2	H411
Skin sensitization	Skin Sens.	1	H317
Serious eye damage	Eye Dam.	1	H318
Substances or mixtures corrosive to metals	Met. Corr.	1	H290
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335

Discovory and Applicatios

Lanthanum (III) chloride (LaCl3) is an inorganic compound composed of lanthanum and chlorine. This white crystalline solid is essential in a variety of industrial and scientific applications. It is a white crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water, forming a clear, colorless solution.

Lanthanum was discovered in 1839 by Swedish chemist Carl Gustav Mosander. He identified lanthanum as a new element while examining impure cerium nitrate. As research on lanthanum progressed, lanthanum trichloride was synthesized and its chemical properties and potential uses were investigated. The development of rare earth chemistry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries further established lanthanum trichloride as an important compound for scientific and industrial use.

Lanthanum trichloride is widely used as a catalyst in organic synthesis. It promotes a variety of chemical reactions, including Friedel-Crafts acylation, alkylation, and polymerization. Its Lewis acid properties increase reaction rates and yields, making it valuable in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and specialty chemicals. It acts as a catalyst in the oil refining process, helping to convert crude oil into value-added products such as gasoline and other fuels. It is part of a catalytic system that increases the efficiency and selectivity of the cracking process.

Lanthanum trichloride is used to synthesize advanced materials, including lanthanum-containing ceramics, glasses, and phosphors. Lanthanum (III) chloride is used to produce lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃), a key component of high-refractive-index glasses and specialty ceramics that enhance the optical properties of glass, making it suitable for camera lenses, fiber optics, and other high-performance optical applications.

Lanthanum trichloride is used to produce scintillating crystals for radiation detection. These crystals, such as lanthanum bromide (LaBr₃), are used in gamma-ray and X-ray detectors, providing high sensitivity and high resolution for medical imaging, nuclear physics, and security screening applications. Lanthanum (III) chloride is used to produce lanthanum-based phosphors for lighting and display technology. These phosphors are used to develop energy-efficient light sources and high-quality display screens for televisions and monitors.

Lanthanum trichloride is a valuable tool in biological research. It acts as a calcium channel blocker, allowing scientists to study calcium-dependent processes in cells and tissues. It is also used to determine the concentration of phosphate in biological samples. Lanthanum trichloride is used in biochemical assays and environmental studies to precipitate and quantify phosphate ions. This application is important for studying metabolic processes and nutrient cycles.

Lanthanum trichloride is used to treat wastewater by removing phosphate ions. It prevents algal blooms and eutrophication in aquatic environments by reducing nutrient levels in water bodies. It is also used to control industrial emissions and wastewaters, and can capture and neutralize pollutants, especially those containing sulfur or phosphorus.

Lanthanum trichloride is used in the nuclear industry to process and recycle nuclear fuel. It can be used as a chemical reagent in the separation of rare earth elements and actinides, which is very useful for processing nuclear materials and developing advanced nuclear fuel cycles. Lanthanum trichloride helps separate and stabilize radioactive isotopes in radioactive waste management and treatment.