Acetates Borates

Gadolinium is a chemical element with symbol Gd and atomic number 64. Gadolinium is a silvery-white, malleable, and ductile rare earth metal. It is found in nature only in oxidized form, and even when separated, it usually has impurities of the other rare earths.

Gadolinium Acetate is a moderately water soluble crystalline Gadolinium source that decomposes to Gadolinium oxide on heating. It is generally immediately available in most volumes. All metallic acetates are inorganic salts containing a metal cation and the acetate anion, a univalent (-1 charge) polyatomic ion composed of two carbon atoms ionically bound to three hydrogen and two oxygen atoms (Symbol: CH3COO) for a total formula weight of 59.05. Acetates are excellent precursors for production of ultra high purity compounds, catalysts, and nanoscale materials.

Gd3+ species are of special interest because the ion has the maximum number of unpaired spins possible, at least for known elements. With seven valence electrons and seven available f-orbitals, all seven electrons are unpaired and symmetrically arranged around the metal. The high magnetism and high symmetry combine to make Gd3+ a useful component in NMR spectroscopy and MRI.

Gadolinium Acetate is used for making optical glass and dopant for Gadolinium Yttrium Garnets which have microwave applications. High purity of Gadolinium Acetate is used for making phosphors for color TV tube.

Gadolinium Acetate is used as intravenous MRI contrast agent to enhance images in medical magnetic resonance imaging and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) procedures. It is used for making Gadolinium Yttrium Garnet (Gd:Y3Al5O12); it has microwave applications and is used in fabrication of various optical components and as substrate material for magneto-optical films.