Uses
Yttrium Sulfate, also called Yttrium Sulphate, is applied in ceramics, glass, and electronics. Yttrium Sulfate is a moderately water and acid soluble Yttrium source for uses compatible with sulfates. Yttrium is used in the production of a large variety of synthetic garnets, and Yttria is used to make Yttrium-Iron-Garnets, which are very effective microwave filters.
Description
Yttrium(III) sulfate octahydrate, with the chemical formula Y2(SO4)3-8H2O, consists of infinite layers parallel to (10\overline 1), with [Y(H2O)4(SO4)3/2] being the only repeating unit. The layers are connected to each other using only moderately strong hydrogen bonds. The trivalent yttrium cation is coordinated by eight O-atoms from four sulfate groups and four water molecules in a distorted square antitetrahedron [YO8]. It is of the same structural type as the rare earth sulfate octahydrate
[1].
Figure 1. View perpendicular to the (10
1) layer of the title compound, with
[Y(H
2
O)
4/1
(SO
4
(1))
3/3
(SO
4
(2))
1/2
] as the repeat unit. Key: [SO
4
] tetrahedra (yellow), [YO
8
] antiprisms (red), oxygen (blue) and hydrogen
(light grey) atoms.
Chemical Properties
Small, reddish-white, monosymmetric
crystals. D 2.558, loses 8H2O at 120C, decomposes
700C. Soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid; sparingly
soluble in water; insoluble in alkalies.
Physical properties
Red monoclinic crystals; density 2.59 g/cm
3; loses all its water molecules at 120°C; decomposes at 700°C; sparingly soluble in water, less soluble in hot water; dissolves in concentrated sulfuric acid forming Y(HSO4)3; insoluble in alkalis; forms double salts with alkali sulfates.
Uses
Yttrium sulfate is used in making many yttrium salts.
Uses
Yttrium(III) sulfate octahydrate is used as a laboratory reagent, colorant, structural ceramics, optical glasses and catalysts. It finds application in electrical components and photo-optical materials.
Preparation
Yttrium sulfate is produced as an intermediate in recovering yttrium from monazite or xenotime (see Yttrium, Recovery). Rare earth sulfates are separated on a cation exchange resin bed. Yttrium fraction is purified by fractional crystallization. Alternatively, yttrium sulfate may be prepared by reacting yttrium oxide with sulfuric acid.
References
[1] PETER HELD; Ma-thias W. Yttrium(III) sulfate octahydrate[J]. Acta crystallographica. Section E, Structure reports online, 2004. DOI:10.1107/S1600536803012182.
