Yttrium(III) nitrate

Yttrium nitrate is an inorganic compound, a salt with the formula Y₃. The hexahydrate is the most common form commercially available.

Preparation

Yttrium nitrate can be prepared by dissolving corresponding metal oxide in 6 mol/L nitric acid:

Properties

Yttrium nitrate hexahydrate loses crystallized water at relatively low temperature. Upon further heating, basic salt YONO₃ is formed. At 600 C, the thermal decomposition is complete. Y₂O₃ is the final product.
Y₃·3TBP is formed when tributyl phosphate is used as the extracting solvent.

Uses

Yttrium nitrate is mainly used as a source of Y³⁺ cations. It is a precursor of some yttrium-containing materials, such as Y₄Al₂O₉, YBa₂Cu₃O_6.5+x and yttrium-based metal-organic frameworks.
It can also be used as a catalyst in organic synthesis.