Lanthanum Oxide
Lanthanum Oxide
Lanthanum(III) oxide
Names
IUPAC name
Lanthanum(III) oxide
Other names
Lanthanum sesquioxide
Lanthana
Identifiers
ChemSpider ▪ 2529886
▪ 133008
EC Number ▪ 215-200-5
UNII ▪ 4QI5EL790W
CompTox ▪ DTXSID7051478
Dashboard (EPA)
InChI
SMILES
Properties
Chemical formula La2O3
Structure
Crystal structure Hexagonal, hP5
Space group P-3m1, No. 164
Hazards
GHS pictograms
NFPA
704 (fire diamond)
1
W
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions Lanthanum(III) chloride
Other cations Cerium(III) oxide
Scandium(III) oxide
Yttrium(III) oxide
Actinium(III) oxide
Related Lanthanum aluminium oxide,
compounds
LaSrCoO4
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard
state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references
Properties
La2O3 powder
Lanthanum oxide is an odorless, white solid that is insoluble in water, but soluble in
dilute acid. Depending on the pH of the compound, different crystal structures can be
obtained. La2O3 is hygroscopic; under atmosphere, it absorbs moisture over time and
converts to lanthanum hydroxide. Lanthanum oxide has p-type semiconducting
properties and a band gap of approximately 5.8 eV.. Its average room temperature
resistivity is 10 kΩ·cm, which decreases with an increase in temperature. La2O3 has
the lowest lattice energy of the rare earth oxides, with very high dielectric constant, ε
= 27.
Structure
At low temperatures, La2O3 has an A-M2O3 hexagonal crystal structure. The La3+ metal
atoms are surrounded by a 7 coordinate group of O2−atoms, the oxygen ions are in an
octahedral shape around the metal atom and there is one oxygen ion above one of the
octahedral faces. On the other hand, at high temperatures lanthanum oxide converts
to a C-M2O3 cubic crystal structure. The La3+ ion is surrounded by six O2− ions in a
hexagonal configuration.
Elements obtained from lanthana
Several elements were discovered as a consequence of lengthy analysis and
decomposition of the ore gadolinite. As the ore was progressively analysed, the
residue was first given the label ceria, then lanthana, and subsequently yttria, erbia,
and terbia. In order of date discovered, the list of elements
includes cerium, lanthanum, erbium, terbium, yttrium, ytterbium, holmium, thulium, s
candium, praseodymium, neodymium and dysprosium. Several of these new elements
were either discovered or isolated by Carl Gustaf Mosander in the 1830s and 1840s.
Synthesis
Lanthanum oxide can be crystallized in several polymorphs.