Chlorides

Yttrium III chloride is an inorganic compound of yttrium and chloride. It exists in two forms, the hydrate (YCl₃(H₂O)₆) and an anhydrous form (YCl₃). Both are colourless solids that are highly soluble in water and deliquescent.Solid YCl₃ has a cubic structure with close-packed chloride ions and yttrium ions filling one third of the octahedral holes and the resulting YCl₆ octahedral sharing three edges with adjacent octahedral, giving it a layered structure.

Yttrium is rare, soft metal. It is relatively stable in air due to their formation of an oxide film on its surface. The finely divided metals ignites in air when heated. Yttrium reacts with water to form yttrium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

Yttrium III Chloride: It is used as an additives in alloys, increasing the strengthof aluminium and magnesium alloys. It is also used as a detoxifier for non-ferrous metals such as vanadium. Used as a catalyst in ethylene polymerization.

Yttrium III Chloride: Yttrium has a silvery metallic lustre. It is relatively stable in air if the above 400°C. Finely divided yttrium is highly unstable in air. Turnings of yttrium are prone to ignition in air. Yttrium has a low cross section for nuclear capture.It is also added in small quantities (0.1 to 0.2%) to reduce the grain size in chromium, molybdenum, zirconium and titanium, as well as to strengthen aluminium and magnesium alloys.

Yttrium III Chloride is used to produce yttrium iron garnets which are useful microwave filters.  Yttrium III chloride is used in ceramic and glass formulations as it has a high melting point and imparts thermal shock resistance and low expansion characteristics to glass.  Yttrium III chloride is widely used for making compounds such as YVO₄europium and YVO₄europium phosphors which are responsible for the red colour in television tubes.