General Introduction
Thulium(III) chloride hexahydrate
CAS:1331-74-4
Molecular formula:TmCl3·6H2O
Thulium chloride is a compound of thulium, a rare - earth element, with the chemical formula TmCl3. It is an important material in the field of rare - earth chemistry and has various applications in different industries.
Physical Properties
Anhydrous thulium chloride is a white to pale yellow powder. The hydrated form, usually thulium chloride hexahydrate (TmCl3·6H2O), appears as light green crystals. These crystals have a certain transparency and luster under appropriate lighting conditions.
The density of anhydrous thulium chloride is approximately 4.38 g/mL (25ºC). Its relatively high density is attributed to the atomic mass and crystal structure of thulium and chlorine atoms.
The melting point of anhydrous thulium chloride is around 824ºC. It shows good thermal stability, being able to maintain its solid - state structure at high temperatures until it reaches the melting point.
Thulium chloride is highly soluble in water. In aqueous solution, it completely dissociates into thulium ions (Tm³) and chloride ions (Cl). The aqueous solution is slightly acidic due to the hydrolysis of thulium ions, which increases the hydrogen ion concentration in the solution.
It is also soluble in some polar organic solvents such as ethanol. This solubility property makes it useful in certain organic synthesis reactions and material preparation processes where organic solvents are involved.
When heated, thulium chloride hexahydrate will lose its crystal water in stages. At higher temperatures, it can be completely dehydrated to form anhydrous thulium chloride. However, care must be taken during the dehydration process as improper conditions can lead to hydrolysis of the compound.
Production Process
Thulium chloride is typically produced by reacting thulium oxide (Tm2O3) with hydrochloric acid. The reaction equation is: Tm2O3 + 6HCl = 2TmCl3 + 3H2O. Thulium oxide is slowly added to a hydrochloric acid solution under stirring. The reaction is exothermic, and appropriate cooling measures are required to control the reaction temperature.
After the reaction is complete, the resulting thulium chloride solution is evaporated and concentrated to a certain degree to make it supersaturated. Then, by cooling the solution, thulium chloride hexahydrate crystals can be obtained through crystallization.
To obtain anhydrous thulium chloride, the thulium chloride hexahydrate is heated in a hydrogen chloride atmosphere to prevent hydrolysis. The hydrogen chloride gas inhibits the formation of thulium hydroxide or thulium oxide during the dehydration process, ensuring the production of high - purity anhydrous thulium chloride.
Application Fields
Optical Applications
In the field of optical fiber communication, thulium - doped optical fibers have unique optical properties. Thulium chloride is used as a dopant source to introduce thulium ions into the optical fiber. Thulium - doped optical fiber amplifiers can amplify optical signals in the 1.4 - 1.5 μm wavelength range, which is complementary to the amplification range of erbium - doped fiber amplifiers, and thus plays an important role in expanding the capacity and improving the performance of optical fiber communication systems.
Thulium chloride is also used in the preparation of special optical glasses. It can adjust the refractive index and dispersion properties of the glass, improving its optical quality. This kind of optical glass is widely used in high - precision optical instruments such as cameras, telescopes, and microscopes to improve the imaging quality and resolution.
Magnetic Materials
In the research and development of magnetic materials, thulium chloride is used as an additive to modify the magnetic properties of materials. Thulium ions have unpaired electrons, which can interact with the magnetic moments of other atoms or ions in the material, affecting the magnetic ordering and magnetic anisotropy of the material.
For example, in some rare - earth - based permanent magnetic materials, adding a small amount of thulium chloride can improve the coercivity and remanence of the material, enhancing its magnetic performance and thermal stability. These improved magnetic materials are widely used in motors, generators, and magnetic sensors.
Catalysis
Thulium chloride can act as a catalyst in certain organic chemical reactions. It can participate in the reaction mechanism by coordinating with reactant molecules, changing the reaction path and reducing the activation energy.
In some esterification, alkylation, and rearrangement reactions, thulium chloride - based catalysts can improve the reaction rate and selectivity, enabling the reaction to proceed under milder conditions and reducing the generation of by - products. This is of great significance for improving the efficiency and quality of organic synthesis.
Medical and Biological Fields
Due to the unique optical and magnetic properties of thulium ions, thulium chloride has potential applications in medical imaging. It can be used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve the imaging contrast of specific tissues or organs, helping doctors to more accurately diagnose diseases.
In addition, in biological research, thulium chloride can be used to label biomolecules or cells for fluorescence imaging and tracking. This helps to study the behavior and distribution of biomolecules and cells in biological systems, providing important information for understanding biological processes and disease mechanisms.
Packaging and Storage
Packaging
Thulium chloride products are usually packaged in different ways according to different application requirements. Vacuum - sealed packaging is often used for high - purity products, with packaging specifications such as 1 g, 5 g, 10 g, etc., which is suitable for laboratory - scale experiments and high - end applications that require strict protection from air and moisture. For industrial - scale applications, packaging in plastic - lined paper bags or cardboard drums is common, with typical packaging weights of 25 kg or 50 kg.
Storage
Thulium chloride should be stored in a cool, dry, and well - ventilated place. It should be kept away from direct sunlight and moisture to prevent the absorption of water and subsequent hydrolysis or deliquescence. Since it is a rare - earth compound, it should be stored separately from other chemicals to avoid contamination and chemical reactions. In addition, proper safety measures should be taken during storage to ensure the safety of the storage environment and personnel.
Product Parameters
Packaging & Shipping
| Liquid products |
Drum of 5kg ,10 kg ,25 kg ,50 kg 200 kg ,250 kg . 1000 kg IBC drum. TANK with 20 tons ,25 tons . |
| Solid products |
Bag of 1 kg ,2 kg ,5 kg ,25 kg ,500kg ,1000 kg . Drum of 25 kg and 50 kg. |
Packaging can be customized according to customer requirements.
Company Profile
Qingdao Jinyu Chemical Co., LTD,which is located in Qingdao City, China, with registered capital of RMB 10 million, is a dynamic chemical import and export enterprise with customer demand as its own responsibility. The founder has been engaged in the chemical industry for more than 20 years. With professional technical and marketing personnel, diversified cooperative factories with synthetic technology and efficient logistics management, we provide services to customers all over the world. After years of hard work, we have selected a number of excellent chemical production cooperative enterprises in China. These enterprises have their own advantages in different chemical synthesis fields. They have passed the strict inspection of suppliers by many customers and formed a long-term and stable strategic partnership with customers. With our partners' excellent equipment, well-trained employees and mature technology, we also continue to provide customers with more products.
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