Chemistry:Yttrium(III) phosphate

Yttrium(III) phosphate

Names
IUPAC name Yttrium phosphate
Identifiers
CAS Number	13990-54-0
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	8488871
EC Number	237-790-3
PubChem CID	10313406
InChI InChI=1S/H3O4P.Y/c1-5(2,3)4;/h(H3,1,2,3,4);/q;+3/p-3 Key: UXBZSSBXGPYSIL-UHFFFAOYSA-K InChI=1/H3O4P.Y/c1-5(2,3)4;/h(H3,1,2,3,4);/q;+3/p-3 Key: UXBZSSBXGPYSIL-DFZHHIFOAS
SMILES [O-]P(=O)([O-])[O-].[Y+3]
Properties
Chemical formula	YPO4
Molar mass	183.877
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

A sample of the mineral xenotime (YPO₄)

Yttrium phosphate, YPO₄, is the phosphate salt of yttrium. It occurs in nature as minerals xenotime and weinschenkite.

Preparation

Yttrium phosphate can be obtained by reacting yttrium chloride and sodium phosphate, or by reacting yttrium nitrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate in solution:

$\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{(}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{)}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{⟶}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{\downarrow }\mathrm{+}\mathrm{3}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}$

$\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{(}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{)}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{(}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{)}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{⟶}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{\downarrow }\mathrm{+}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{3}}$

Yttrium phosphate can also be prepared by the reaction of yttrium(III) oxide and diammonium hydrogen phosphate:

${\mathrm{Y}}_{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{(}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{)}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{⟶}\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{3}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{O}$

Yttrium chloride and phosphoric acid are mixed at 35~40°C, and then ammonia solution is added dropwise to react:

$\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{l}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{+}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{3}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{3}}\mathrm{\cdot }{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{O}\stackrel{35-40^{o}C}{\to }\mathrm{Y}\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{3}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{4}}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{3}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{O}$

Properties

Yttrium phosphate belongs to the tetragonal crystal system, and the unit cell parameters are a=0.68832 nm, c=0.60208 nm. It can exist as a monohydrate, dihydrate or the anhydrous form. The dihydrate belongs to the monoclinic crystal system, the space group is B 2/b, and the unit cell parameters are a=0.648 nm, b=1.512 nm, c=0.628 nm, β=129.4°, Z=4.

Yttrium phosphate reacts with concentrated alkali to form yttrium hydroxide.

Uses

Yttrium phosphate is used as a catalyst and is a potential containment material for nuclear waste. Ce³⁺-doped yttrium phosphate shows luminescence in the UV range and can be used for tanning lamps. Double-doped materials such as Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺ have also been reported.