Erbium(III) nitrate is an inorganic compound, a salt of erbium and nitric acid with the chemical formula Er(NO3)3. The compound forms pink crystals, readily soluble in water. A pentahydrate and hexahydrate also exist.
Synthesis Dissolving metallic erbium in nitric acid:
Dissolving erbium oxide or hydroxide in nitric acid:
Reaction of nitrogen dioxide with metallic erbium:
Properties Both erbium(III) nitrate and its crystalline hydrate decompose on heating. The hydrated erbium nitrate thermally decomposes to form ErONO3 and then erbium oxide.
Applications It is used to obtain metallic erbium and is also used as a chemical reagent.
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