Physical Properties
White crystalline solid; hygroscopic; decomposes around 40°C; very soluble in water and alcohol.
Preparation
The salt is prepared by dissolution of lanthanum oxide, hydroxide or carbonate in nitric acid, followed by crystallization, and obtained as a hexahydrate. The general reactions are as follows:
La2O3 + 6HNO3 → 2La(NO3)3 + 3H2O
La (OH)3 + 3HNO3 → La(NO3)3 + 3H2O
La2 (CO3)3 + 6HNO3 → 2La(NO3)3 + 3CO2 + 3H2O
Reactions
Thermal dissociation yields lanthanum oxide, La2O3. Its reactions in aqueous solutions are those of La
3+ ion. It forms double salts with magnesium, calcium and ammonium nitrates and many other salts when mixed in stoichiometic amounts. Such double salts are obtained from solution mixtures on crystallization and may vary in their compositions.
Chemical Properties
white crystals
Uses
Starting material for the electrochemical synthesis of a LaMnO
3 thin film coating on stainless steel substrates. A novel solvothermal process for formation of doped lanthanide oxysulfide, La
2O
2S, was developed in order to advance possible applications of this material in phosphors, fluorescent display tubes or heat transfer measurement.
Uses
Lanthanum(III) nitrate is utilized as a starting material for the electrochemical synthesis of a LaMnO3 thin film coating on stainless steel substrates. It is used as a catalyst for the chemoselective preparation of cyclic and acyclic dithioacetals. It is used to prepare lanthanum aluminate (LAO) thin films, LaF3 nanocrystals, and bis(indolyl) methanes from indoles.
Uses
Starting material for the electrochemical synthesis of a LaMnO3 thin film coating on stainless steel substrates. A novel solvothermal process for formation of doped lanthanide oxysulfide, La2O2S, was developed in order to advance possible applications of this material in phosphors, fluorescent display tubes or heat transfer measurement.
Lanthanum Nitrate is mainly applied in specialty glass, water treatment and catalyst. Various compounds of Lanthanum and other rare-earth elements (Oxides, Chlorides, etc.) are components of various catalysis, such as petroleum cracking catalysts. Small amounts of Lanthanum added to steel improves its malleability, resistance to impact, and ductility, whereas addition of Lanthanum to Molybdenum decreases its hardness and sensitivity to temperature variations. Small amounts of Lanthanum are present in many pool products to remove the Phosphates that feed algae.
Air & Water Reactions
Deliquescent. Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
Lanthanum(III) nitrate hexahydrate forms double salts with bivalent ion nitrates and ammonium nitrates. Lanthanum(III) nitrate hexahydrate is an oxidizer.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition Lanthanum(III) nitrate hexahydrate emits toxic fumes. It is an irritant.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for Lanthanum(III) nitrate hexahydrate is not available, but Lanthanum(III) nitrate hexahydrate is probably combustible.
